46L53 


B 


I 


*^ 


'rsity  I 


y 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^M' 


C 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


THOMAS  T.  THOMASON, 


MISSIOXABT    IN    CALCUTTA. 


COMPILED  FOR  THE  AMERICAN  SUXDAT-9CH00L  UKIOIT, 

AKD  BEVISEB  BT  THE  COMMITTEE   OF 

PUBLICATION. 


PHIL^DELPHTJi: 


AMERICAN    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   UNION. 

WO,   146  CHESTXUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1833, 
by  Paul  Beck,  Jr.,  Treasurer,  in  trust  for  the  American 
Sunday-school  Union,  in  tlie  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District 
Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Peniisj'lvania. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  Page 

Birth — Education — Visit  to  the  West  Indies        -        -      7 

CHAPTER  II. 
Education  for  the  Ministry — University  of  Cambridge      10 

CHAPTER  III. 
Tutor — Ordination — Settlement — Cambridge       -        -16 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Shelford — Wishes  to  be  a  Missionary  -        -        -    22 

CHAPTER  V. 
Appointed  Chaplain  to  Calcutta — Voyage — Wreck     -    32 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Calcutta — His  Employments        .....    49 

CHAPTER  VII. 
His  Preaching — Henry  Martyn  -        -        -        -    62 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Calcutta  Bible  Society — Fire  at  Serampore — Ameri- 
can Missionaries 74 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Travels  witli  Earl  Moira — Reproves  Sabbath-breaking 
— Bishop  Middle  ton 94 

CHAPTER  X. 
Orphan    Asylum — Hindoo    College — Other    Employ- 
ments— Bishop's   College — Parting  with  Congrega- 
tion   112 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Voyage  to  England — Death  of  Mrs.  Thomasoii— Chel- 
tenham— Returns  to  Calcutta — \'oyage  to  the  Isle  of 
France— Death 125 

3 


PREFACE. 


The  young  readers  of  this  volume  will 
please  to  remember,  before  they  begin  it,  that 
it  has  not  been  written  merely  to  amuse  them, 
or  to  praise  Mr.  Thomason.  It  has  been  writ- 
ten and  pnnted  because  it  is  believed  that  it 
may  do  great  good  to  those  who  shall  thus  see 
how  benevolent  and  active  those  men  are  who 
are  true  Christians  ;  how  humble  they  are, 
whatever  may  be  their  piety,  how  anxious 
to  tell  men  of  the  mercy  of  God  through 
the  atonement  of  Christ,  and  how  happy  when 
they  are  engaged  in  this  work.  In  publishing 
the  history  of  pious  men,  born  in  different 
places,  and  belonging  to  different  churches, 
our  hope  is,  that  the  readers  of  such  books 
will  see  a  proof  of  the  power  of  religion,  and 
the  way  in  which  it  is  shown  to  exist ;  and 
that  this  will  lead  ihem  also  to  desire  to  be  th€ 
disciples  of  Christ,  and  to  become  holy  and 
happy  4 


THE    LIFE 


THOMAS   T.   THOMASON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Thomas  T.  Thomason  was  born  at 
Plymouth,  in  England,  on  the  seventh 
day  of  June,  1774.  Before  he  was  a  year 
old  his  father  died,  and  in  his  fifth  year 
his  pious  mother  removedJ:o  London,  and 
placed  her  son  in  a  school  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  that  city.  This  school  was 
taught  by  a  master  and  several  tutors. 
Thomas  was  happily  put  under  the  care 
of  a  pious  tutor,  who  took  great  pains 
to  give  him  religious  instruction.  He 
gave  him  lessons  in  the  Bible,  and  when 
he  examined  him,  he  not  only  asked 
questions  to  know  whether  Thomas  had 
studied  them,  but  would  show  him  that 
A  2  5 


6  THE    LIFE    OF 

he  had  a  great  concern  in  what  the  Bible 
taught.  He  led  him  to  compare  his 
own  feelings  with  what  the  Scriptures 
say  of  the  sinfulness  of  mankind.  And 
w^hen  Thomas  saw  that  he  was  a  sinner, 
the  tutor  showed  him  that  the  only 
way  of  being  pardoned  was  by  repent- 
ance and  trusting  to  God's  mercy,  through 
Jesus  Christ.  The  blessing  of  God  at- 
tended his  faithful  instruction,  and  young 
Thomas  soon  began  to  be  affected  by 
these  truths.  Thomas  might  have  be 
lieved  that  he  was  a  sinner,  and  that  Christ 
is  the  only  Saviour  ;  but  if  this  had  not 
led  him  to  repent  of  his  sins  and  seek 
salvation,  his  knowledge  would  have  been 
worse  than  useless  to  him.  But  he  was 
not  so  unwise.  When  he  felt  that  he 
was  so  guilty  that  he  must  depend  on  the 
mercy  of  God  for  pardon,  he  began  to 
seek  that  mercy.  And  when  he  found 
that  God  was  so  holy,  excellent,  and  good, 
he  desired  to  love  and  serve  him  ;  so 
that  before  he  was  nine  years  old  he  woukl 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  7 

rather  spend  the  play-time  alone,  thinking 
of  God,  praying  to  him,  and  reading  the 
Scriptures,  than  join  in  the  amusements 
of  his  schoolmates.  For  this  the  boys 
ridiculed  him,  but,  as  he  said  afterwards, 
"I  began  to  find  confidence  in  prayer; 
and  in  proportion  as  I  did  so,  happiness  ; 
this  happiness  was  so  great  that  I  bore 
contempt  without  murmuring." 

I  cannot  help  observing  here  how  much 
good  might  be  done  by  teachers  of  day- 
schools,  if  they  would  faithfully  instruct 
tlieir  scholars  in  the  Bible.  This  is  done 
in  Sunday-schools,  but  every  teacher  ought 
to  be  willing  and  happy  to  teach  his 
scholars  those  truths  which  may  lead 
them  to  pardon  and  everlasting  happiness. 
Let  children  pray  that  there  may  be  more 
teachers  like  the  tutor  of  young  Thomason. 

Thomas  was  also  attentive  to  his  other 
studies,  and  made  such  progress,  that  when 
he  was  only  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  be- 
came a  tutor  himself;  and  when  about 
fifteen,  he  was  so  well  acquainted  with  the 


8  THE    LIFE    OF 

French  language,  that  Dr.  Coke,  a  mis- 
sionary of  the  methodist  church,  took  him 
to  the  West  Indies  to  assist  him,  as  his 
interpreter.  This  employment  increased 
his  desire  of  becoming  useful  to  those  who 
are  destitute  or  careless  of  the  gospel. 


CHAPTER   II. 

After  his  return  from  a  short  stay  in 
tlie  West  Indies,  his  friends  believed  that 
his  character  for  piety  and  usefulness  made 
it  proper  that  he  should  be  encouraged  in 
his  desire  to  become  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel in  the  episcopal  church.  His  mother 
being  unable  to  afford  him  proper  educa- 
tion, he  was  assisted  by  a  society  esta- 
blishedforthe  purpose  of  aiding  youngmen 
in  circumstances  like  his.  He  commenced 
his  studies  in  1791,  being  then  in  the 
eighteenth  year  of  his  age.  His  teacher 
was  a  venerable  clergyman,  named  C^ark, 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  9 

who  undertook  to  prepare  him  for  college 
without  charge.  He  had  one  fellow-student 
who  was  also  studying  for  the  ministry, 
and  who  is  now  the  Rev.  Charles  Jerram, 
They  soon  formed  an  intimate  friendship, 
and  found  great  happiness  in  studying, 
conversing,  and  praying  together.  Some 
sentences  from  Thomason's  letters  to  his 
mother  at  th  s  time  may  be  interesting  and 
useful. 

"  In  the  evening  we  heard  Mr.  Clark 
expound,  when  he  considered,  among 
many  other  verses,  that  one  which  is  a 
part  of  our  Saviour's  prayer  for  his  apos- 
tles, '  I  pray  not  that  thou  wouldest  take 
them  out  of  the  world,  but  that  thou 
wDuldest  keep  them  from  the  evil.'  Ah  ! 
thought  I,  that  is  the  grand  point,  to  be 
kept  from  the  world,  from  its  evils,  its 
vanities,  its  snares.  The  means  of  grace 
are  very  precious  :  the  wearied  they  re- 
fresh, the  bewildered  they  guide,  to  the 
mourners   they   administer   comfort,   the 


10  THE    LIFE    OF 

careless  they  awaken  ;  will  they  not  rise 
up  in  judgment  against  us,  unless  received 
in  the  spirit  of  thankfulness  and  prayer  ?'' 

'-'Feb.  17,  1792. 
"  INIr.  Clark  has  been  with  us  and  given 
us  some  rules  which  I  copied  down  from 
his  own  mouth.  Being  dressed  in  the 
morning,  let  each  meditate  on  the  divine 
perfections  ;  his  dependence  upon  God  ; 
his  obligations  to  obey  him.  Let  each 
recollect  his  own  particular  defects  or 
weaknesses,  and  wherein  he  is  most  likely 
to  fail  in  the  duties  which  he  owes  to  God 
and  man  ;  remembering  his  reliance  on 
the  Redeemer  for  the  forgiveness  of  his 
sins,  and  for  power  to  discharge  every 
duty.  Having  meditated  on  these  sub- 
jects, let  each  separately  apply  himself  to 
God  in  prayer  ;  begging  that  he  may  have 
more  enlarged  views  of  the  extent  of 
God's  laws,  and  of  his  own  sins,  whether 
in  temper,  words,  or  actions  ;  entreating 
for   an   increase   of    dependence    on   the 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  11 

Redeemer  in  every  office,  and  for  ability 
to  discharge  every  duty,  and  to  suppress 
every  wrong  temper.  Thus  runs  our 
preceptor's  advice.  0  that  we  may  be 
enabled  to  follow  it  !  The  word  of  God 
— our  own  consciences — our  parents — our 
tutor,  unite  in  teaching  us  the  necessity 
of  meditation  and  prayer  ;  and  shall  we 
after  all  neglect  it  ?  May  we  receive 
grace  to  withstand  every  opposition,  and 
to  love  the  Lord  with  all  our  hearts  ! 
May  our  hearts  be  submissive  and  humble  ; 
our  actions  Christian  and  becomino;;  our 
words  gentle  and  loving.  My  dear  mother, 
let  this  letter  put  an  end  to  all  anxiety  on 
our  account.  Fear  not,  we  shall  be  blessed 
while  we  are  careful  to  pray  for  a  blessing." 

''March  5,  1792. 
"  How  ought  I  to  make  it  my  continual 
prayer,  that  God  would  so  sanctify  my 
aims,  that  I  may  be  enabled  in  all  things 
1o  behave  as  becometh  a  person  whose 
profession  is  to  be  sacred.     I  feel  much 


12  THE    LIFE    OF 

the  importance  of  a  greater  conformity  to 
the  will  of  God.  Shall  I,  who  am  to 
stand  up  between  God  and  man,  behave 
in  a  manner  which  shows  my  contempt 
of  him  whose  messenger  I  pretend  to  be  ? 
How  dreadful  the  consequence  of  this  ? 
The  profession  which  a  minister  makes 
is  very  awful  ;  he  professes  to  be  called 
by  the  common  Maker  and  Redeemer 
of  all,  on  an  errand  which  concerns  the 
salvation  of  all  ;  this  call  he  professes  to 
be  moved  to  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  this 
profession  presupposes  a  knowledge  of  the 
efficacy  of  that  redemption  which  he 
preaches.  He  professes  that  he  has  felt 
the  happiness  of  God's  children,  and  of  a 
life  devoted  to  the  service  of  God.  How 
careful,  then,  ought  such  a  person  to  be 
not  to  oflfend  God  or  man  ;  how  vigilant 
should  he  be,  lest  by  giving  way,  and 
consenting  to  the  evil  of  his  own  heart, 
he  should  be  led  into  actions  disgracefiil 
fjo  him,  both  as  a  learner  and  teacher  of 
good  things.     Every  action  of  such  a  per- 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  13 

son  is  exposed  to  peculiar  scrutiny  ;  and 
every  sin,  no  doubt,  will  be  punished  with 
peculiar  weight.  His  employment  makes 
him  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hill,  which  can- 
not be  hid  ;  his  life,  therefore,  should  be 
such  as  will  bear  the  most  accurate  obse^ 
vation  and  notice,  and  the  principles  of 
his  life  such  as  will  bear  the  searching  of 
God's  omniscience,  who  sits  as  a  refiner's 
fire  on  every  soul  of  man.  0,  who  is 
equal  to  this  ?  Cleanse  thou  me,  0  God, 
from  my  secret  faults.  See  what  sin  thei'e 
is  in  me,  and  dispel  it  by  the  operations 
of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Make  me  to  lov€ 
thee  more  and  serve  thee  better,  that  when 
thou  in  thy  providence  shalt  call  me  to 
speak  in  thy  name,  I  may,  having  myself 
experienced  the  happiness  which  results 
from  being  at  peace  with  thee,  be  enabled 
to  commend  this  happiness  to  those  whom 
thou  mayest  commit  to  my  care. 

"  I    am    well    persuaded    that   nothing 
would  tend  to  make  me  so  truly  happy, 
or  so  consistent  in  practice,  as  a  continued 
B 


14  THE    LIFE    OF 

sense  of  my  own  nothingness  and  sinful- 
ness. Whether  it  be  through  the  incon- 
stancy of  youth,  or  a  temptation  peculiarly 
strong  to  me,  so  it  is  that  I  am  continually 
forgetting  this.  Highmindedness  will  find 
it5  way  into  my  soul,  and  disturb  my 
peace.  What  have  I  to  boast  of  ?  Surely 
nothing  ;  I  have  sinned  much,  and  have 
been  forgiven  much  ;  I  do  still  sin,  and 
am  still  forgiven  ;  shall  I  be  proud  ?  My 
dear  mother,  do  not  forget  to  pray  for  me, 
that  my  strength  to  withstand  evil  may  be 
increased,  that  I  may  improve  in  the 
knowledge  and  love  of  God,  and  that  his 
peace,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
may  enlighten  the  natural  darkness  of  my 
soul,  and  be  my  safeguard  against  the 
world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.'* 

In  October,  1792,  Mr.  Thomason  was 
sent  to  the  university  of  Cambridge,  where 
JNIr.  Jerram  joined  him  a  few  months  after- 
w'ards.  His  feelings  and  wishes  in  expec- 
tation of  this  event  were  thus  expressed  : 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON,  15 

**Indeed  the  prospect  before  me  requires 
much  circumspection  :  a  false  step  at  my 
first  entrance  may  imbitter  a  whole  three 
years'  residence.  How  easy  a  matter  to 
forget  God  !  How  easy  to  connect  my- 
self with  persons  who  care  not  for  God, 
nor  the  things  of  God  !  How  happy  will 
it  be  if  I  should  find  grace,  and  come  off 
conqueror  !  May  I  be  enabled,  knowing 
my  Master's  will,  to  do  it  !  May  my 
life  be  regulated  by  a  proper  rule  and 
conducted  in  a  proper  spirit  ! 

"  0  that  I  may  be  enabled,  day  by  day, 
to  act  as  a  dying  creature  !  May  I  im- 
prove in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God, 
and  make  every  thing  subservient  to  the 
one  great  end  !  I  am  determined,  with 
God's  assistance,  to  begin  afresh.  I  am 
determined,  by  his  grace  assisting  me,  to 
devote  my  powers  to  Him  ;  and  work, 
act,  think,  speak,  and  live  for  Him.  No- 
thing is  worth  a  thought  but  how  I  may 
please  Him,  and  this  is  worth  all  my 
thoughts/' 


16  THE    LlfE    OF 

The  separation  from  his  beloved  teacher 
was  painful  ;  they  took  a  last  walk  toge- 
ther, and  the  pupil  received  his  parting 
advice.  "  Watch  strictly,"  said  he,  "over 
your  heart  ;  be  much  in  prayer,  cleave 
closely  to  God.  Pray  for  spiritual  dis- 
cernment, that  you  may  have  a  clear  per- 
ception of  the  path  you  should  walk  in. 
Pray  to  walk  in  that  way  in  spite  of  all 
opposition  ;  thus  knowing  and  doing  the 
will  of  God,  you  must  be  happy." 


CHAPTER   III. 

Ix  the  university  Mr.  Thomason  was 
distino-uished  bv  his  diligence  and  success. 
He  gained  one  of  the  annual  prizes  by 
an  essay  to  prove  "  that  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, rightly  understood,  do  not  give  en- 
couragement to  enthusiasm  or  supersti- 
tion." He  was  very  attentive  to  the  study 
of  the  language  in  which  the  Bible  was 
written.     He  had  read  the  New  Testa 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  17 

ment  in  Greek  so  often,  and  with  so  much 
care,  that  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  men- 
tion a  passage  in  English,  for  which  he 
could  not  immediately  quote  the  original. 
He  had  the  Hebrew  Bible  divided  into 
several  small  volumes,  and  was  never  w^ith- 
out  one  of  them  in  his  pocket.  He  U'sually 
read  this  whenever  he  could  spare  time 
from  his  other  studies,  and  by  this  means 
became  familiar  with  the  whole  of  the 
Scriptures. 

The  happiness  and  advantages  of  his 
life  in  college  were  much  promoted  by  the 
society  of  his  friend  Jerram,  and  another 
Christian  student,  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Cock- 
er. They  lived  in  the  closest  intimacy, 
and  spent  many  happy  hours  in  reading 
the  Scriptures,  in  prayer,  and  in  singing 
their  favourite  hymns.  They  rose  at  the 
same  time  and  met  in  the  same  room  to 
study,  and  made  both  their  duties  and 
their  leisure  contribute  to  their  religious 
improvement  They  had  also  the  advan- 
tage of  the  friendship  of  the  Rev.  Mr, 
b2 


18  THE    LIFE    OF 

Simeon,  of  Cambridge,  who  is  so  well 
known  by  Christians  as  a  pious  author, 
and  as  the  friend  of  Henry  Martyn. 

In  a  letter  to  his  friend  Mrs.  Thorn- 
ton, jNIr.  Thomason  says,  "  Mr.  Simeon 
watches  over  us  as  a  shepherd  over  his 
sheep.  He  takes  delight  in  instructing 
us,  and  has  us  continually  at  his  rooms. 
He  has  nothing  to  do  with  us  as  it  respects 
our  situation  at  college.  His  Christian 
love  and  zeal  prompt  him  to  notice  us." 

During  his  last  )"ear  in  college,  Mr. 
Thomason  was  offered  the  care  of  the 
mission  church  at  Calcutta,  which  he 
resolved  to  accept ;  but  some  events  in  his 
family  obliged  him  to  decline  the  appoint- 
ment, and  the  celebrated  Buchanan  was 
sent  in  his  place.  In  the  spring  of  1796, 
Having  finished  his  course  at  college,  he 
became  tutor  in  a  private  family  at  Bal- 
dock,  that  he  might  gain  the  means  of 
support  until  he  finished  his  studies  for 
the  ministry.  In  this  place  he  enjoyed 
much  spiritual   happiness.     "My   soul," 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  19 

he  writes,  "  has  been  much  blessed,  and 
I  have  been  enabled  to  live  more  in  a 
state  of  prayer  than  I  ever  remember  to 
have  done.  I  long  to  know  more  of  the 
power  of  religion,  and  to  realize  the  things 
of  eternity  ; — blessed  be  God  for  what 
he  has  done  for  me  in  this  respect  My 
birth-day  was  distinguished  by  nothin-g 
but  a  firm  determination  to  give  myself 
more  unreservedly  to  God,  with  the  divine 
assistance.  When  I  look  back  and  con- 
sider what  has  been  done  for  me,  I  am 
like  a  traveller  at  the  foot  of  the  Alps, — 
he  sees  mountains  above  mountains, — I 
see  mercy  beyond  mercy." 

In  October  of  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Thomason  was  ordained  to  the  ministry. 
His  language  at  that  time  was  :  ^'  I  ear- 
nestly pray  God  to  take  me  out  of  th'e 
world  if  his  omniscient  eye  foresees  that 
I  shall  dishonour  him  by  the  unfaithful 
ea&ercise  of  so  holy  a  profession. — If  I 
have  been  hasty  and  forward  in  under- 
taking so  holy  an  office,  I  pray  the  Lord 


20  THE    LIFE    OF 

to  pardon  me,  and  to  qualify  me  for  the 
work  that  lies  before  me  ;  then  shall  I 
preach  as  in  the  presence  of  the  Judge  of 
quick  and  dead/' 

He  was  immediately  appointed  to  the 
charge  of  a  congregation  in  Cambridge, 
and  another  at  Stapleford,  about  five  miles 
distant.  A  great  advantage  to  him  in  this 
situation  was  that  he  was  assistant  to  his 
friend  and  adviser,  Mr.  Simeon. 

Mr.  Thomason  had  a  peculiar  fitness 
for  teaching  the  young,  and  took  a  great 
delight  in  having  them  assembled  for  in- 
struction. Every  Sunday  morning  he 
went  to  Stapleford,  which  he  reached  by 
six  o'clock,  and  spent  two  hours  in  teach- 
ing the  children  before  the  service  of  the 
church  commenced. 

But  finding  that  the  church  at  Cam- 
bridge was  not  able  to  maintain  two  minis- 
ters, Mr.  Thomason  applied  for  a  situation 
in  the  university,  and  in  1797  he  was 
chosen  to  a  fellowship,  and  to  be  an  assist- 
ant tutor  in  one  of  the  colleges  of  which  it  is 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  21 

composed.  In  the  next  year  he  was  apn 
pointed  tutor,  and  had  to  deliver  daily 
two  public  and  two  private  lectures,  on 
the  studies  of  his  classes ;  and  when  Mr. 
Simeon  was  absent,  he  had  to  preach  five 
sermons  weekly. 

Heretofore  he  had  only  been  a  deacon. 
According  to  the  church  of  England, a  per- 
son is  not  permitted  to  perform  all  the 
duties  of  a  clergyman  until  he  has  passed 
some  time  as  a  deacon.  If  he  is  then 
Judged  fit  for  the  sacred  office,  he  is  or- 
dained as  a  presbyter.  To  this  rank  Mr. 
Thomason  was  admitted  in  1798,  and  was 
settled  in  the  village  of  Shelford.  In  the 
next  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fawcet, 
who  was  an  excellent  and  benevolent  wo- 
man, and  proved  in  all  respects  a  suitable 
companion. 


83  THE    LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER   IV. 


The  happiness  of  Mr.  Thomason  al 
this  period  of  life  may  be  judged  of  by 
his  own  account  of  his  situation  in  a  let- 
ter to  his  mother. 

"  Do  you  remember  a  very  pleasant 
spot,  where  there  are  two  bridges,  and 
you  have  a  sweet  view  on  both  sides  ? 
Close  to  that  spot  is  our  mansion  ;  the 
walks  extend  down  to  the  river.  A  more 
beautiful  place  I  never  saw  :  it  is  the 
garden  of  Cambridgeshire.  When  I  look 
around  me  it  seems  a  dream  :  I  can 
scarcely  persuade  myself  it  belongs  to 
me.  If  you  think  of  me  between  the 
hours  of  twelve  and  two,  you  may  imagine 
me  walking  in  the  shrubbery  with  my 
little  Hebrew  Bible  in  my  hand.  Should 
the  sun  be  very  hot,  depend  upon  it,  I 
have  taken  my  seat  under  the  shade  of  a 
thick  chestnut ;  there  I  endeavour  to  col- 
lect my  thoughts,  and  stir  myself  up  to 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASOX.  28 

diligent  improvement  and  application  of 
the  word  of  God.  But,  alas!  I  find  it 
easier  to  admire  the  landscape  around  me 
than  to  raise  my  heart  to  Him  who  made 
it ;  easier  to  thank  him  for  the  walks  and 
gardens,  than  to  besiege  a  throne  of  grace 
for  spiritual  blessings  :  yet  these  are  what 
I  earnest!}^  long  for,  and  without  which 
my  soul  cannot  be  satisfied.  Mr.  Simeon 
has  a  room  on  the  ground  floor,  which 
opens  into  a  delightful  pleasure-garden, 
surrounded  by  a  wall,  where  he  can  walk 
privately,  in  which  he  so  much  delights. 
One  door  of  his  room  opens  into  my 
study,  so  that  we  are  as  near  each  other 
as  possible.  His  friendship  I  must  name 
amongst  my  chief  blessings  :  he  is  more 
and  more  dear  to  us,  as  indeed  he  ought 
to  be  ;  his  kindness  to  us  is  wonderful. 
It  quite  overpowers  me  when  I  think  of 
jt.  I  hope  we  shall  provoke  one  another 
more  and  more  to  abound  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord.  0  how  short  is  the  time ! 
I  am  sure  there  is  no  time  for  idleness  : 


24  THE    LIFE    Of 

would  to  God  that  the  preciousness  of 
each  passing  hour  might  be  more  deeply 
impressed  upon  my  mind. 

"  It  has  pleased  God  to  send  us  pious 
servants  ;  indeed  our  domestic  comforts 
are  invaluable  ;  our  seasons  of  family 
prayer  are  seasons  of  refreshment  I 
have  found  my  own  mind  stirred  up  to 
make  them  as  profitable  as  possible." 

At  this  time  he  resolved  to  take  a  few 
pupils  into  his  house.  He  was  induced 
to  do  this,  not  only  to  assist  in  the  support 
of  his  family,  but  that  he  might  be  able 
to  repay  all  that  had  been  expended  for 
his  education  by  the  society  that  had  su]> 
ported  him  at  college.  This  he  did  by 
saving  nearly  eighteen  hundred  dollars 
from  the  pay  of  his  scholars.  Of  his 
labours  as  a  pastor  at  this  time  Mr.  Simeon 
thus  speaks: 

"  The  parishes  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomason  were  able  to  exert  their  influ- 
ence seemed  as  their  own  family, — schools 
of  industry,  as  well  as  other  schools,  were 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  25' 

established  by  them — the  poor  and  the- 
sick  were  visited  and  relieved — all  that 
Christian  love  could  plan  and  devise  was 
planned  and  executed  with  the  tenderest 
assiduity  and  most  unwearied  constancy. 
If  I  were  to  fix  on  one  thing  more  than 
another,  where  Mr.  Thomason  was  at, 
home,  it  was  in  his  Sunday  evening  and 
Tuesday  evening  lectures  in  his  school- 
room. There  the  poor  were  permitted 
to  come,  and  he  was  a  father  amongst  his 
children,  or  a  pastor  amongst  his  flock. 
In  his  addresses  there  was  an  unrivalled 
simplicity  and  divine  unction,  which  left 
a  savour  that  is  not  forgotten  to  this  hour.'* 
He  also  still  preached  frequently  at 
Cambridge,  and  found  time  to  write  essays 
for  two  prizes  in  the  university,  both  of 
which  he  gained,  in  addition  to  the  one 
which  he  obtained  whilst  a  student.  The 
subjects  of  his  essays  were,  "That  the  Chris- 
tian religion  has  in  its  effects  been  favour- 
able to  human  happiness,''  and  "  That  the. 
differences  of  opinion  amongst  Christians- 


36  THE    LIFE    OF 

is  no  proof  against  Christianity.*'  Seve 
ral  clergymen  were  in  the  habit  of  hold- 
ing meetings  for  devotion  and  conversa- 
tion in  each  other's  houses.  Mr.  Thoma- 
son  found  them  very  profitable,  and  opened 
his  own  house  for  this  purpose.  A  vene- 
rable minister  says,  "  One  of  my  most 
pleasing  recollections  of  him  is  my  meet 
ing  him  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  when 
he  was  curate  of  Shelford.  At  his  hous<» 
a  clerical  meeting  was  held  once  a  year, 
which  was  attended  by  about  fifteen  or 
twenty  clergymen.  Being  privileged  to 
be  one  of  the  occasional  visiters,  I  cannot 
describe  the  benefit,  instruction,  and  hap- 
piness which  I  enjoyed.  It  was  the  de 
light  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomason  to  re 
-ceive  their  Christian  friends,  and  a  spiriit 
of  devotion,  peaceful  serenity,  and  Chris- 
tian cheerfulness  prevailed  in  their  hospi- 
table mansion,  which  has  left  an  indelible 
impression  on  my  mind." 

But  notwithstanding  the  happiness  of 
his  situation  at  Shelford,  INIr.  Thomason 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  27 

was  not  satisfied  that  he  was  performing 
his  duty  to  his  divine  Master  unless  he 
was  doing  all  that  he  could  do.  He  felt 
tiiat  there  were  many  places  in  the  world 
more  in  need  of  the  services  of  a  minister 
than  his  own  happy  village.  And  the 
comforts  he  was  enjoying  there  often 
caused  him  to  think  of  those  who  were 
suffering  so  many  hardships  in  foreign 
countries  for  the  sake  of  spreading  the 
gospel.  This  was  not  a  new  feeling:  for, 
as  we  have  seen,  he  was  near  going  as  a 
missionary  to  Calcutta  before  he  had 
finished  his  studies  at  the  university.  It 
was  now,  however,  increased  in  his  mind 
by  two  circumstances.  The  first  was  the 
consideration  of  the  devotedness  of  Wes- 
ley and  Whitefield  to  the  service  of  the 
Redeemer.  When  he  thought  how  much 
those  men  had  done  during  their  lives  to 
extend  the  blessings  of  religion,  he  felt 
that  he  was  doing  much  less  than  he  might 
do.  The  other  circumstance  that  led  him 
to  reflect  much   on   the  subject  was  the 


28  THE    LIFE    OF 

departure  of  Henry  INIartyn  from  Eng» 
land,  to  spend  his  life  in  promoting  reli- 
gion in  Asia.  He  thus  wrote  in  the  be- 
ginning of  1805,  alluding  to  the  history 
of  Wesley  and  Whitefield : 

"  One  good  effect  has  already  been  pro- 
duced on  my  mind, — an  increased  and 
painful  sense  that  I  am  doing  nothing  to 
any  good  purpose.  The  reading  the  life 
and  labours  of  those  excellent  ministers 
fills  me  with  admiration  of  their  zeal,  and 
with  shame  that  1  am  such  a  blank  in 
creation.  My  sphere  is  contracted,  and 
I  long  for  a  more  extensive  field  of  labour. 
God  has  given  me  an  education  and  a 
spirit,  I  trust,  which  might  render  me  far 
more  useful  in  the  church  than  I  now  am. 
Where  my  present  thoughts  will  lead  me, 
I  know  not ;  but  I  look  round  upon  this 
lovely  spot  with  all  the  indifierence  of  a 
man  who  would,  with  the  greatest  cheer- 
fulness, part  with  all,  if  a  situation  of 
greater    usefulness,     however    laborious, 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  29 

should  offer  itself.  Here  I  am.  '  Lord, 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  V 

"  But  more  of  this  at  a  future  time  ;  in 
the  mean  time  let  us  both  remember, — 
vou,  that  you  have  frequently  devoted  me 
to  God, — and  I,  that  I  have  professedly 
done  so  for  years, — and  that,  as  a  redeemed 
creature,  I  ought  to  be  presenting  my  body 
a  living  sacrifice  to  God." 

Accordingly,  in  that  year,  Mr.  Thoma- 
son  determined  to  seek  an  opportunity  of 
going  to  the  heathen ;  but  upon  advising 
with  Mr.  Simeon  and  a  friend  who  had 
the  chief  direction  of  the  appointment  of 
missionaries  to  India,  they  judged  it  pro- 
per, probably  on  account  of  the  unwilling- 
ness of  his  wife,  that  he  should  give  up 
his  design.  His  own  humble  account  of 
Uie  reasons  for  this  advice  is  as  follows  : 

"  It  appears  evident  that  a  minister  who 
is  not  calculated  for  usefulness  at  home, 
will  never  become  useful  abroad  ;  and  that 
change  of  place  or  employment  cannot  of 
itself  quicken  the  soul  which  for  eight 
c  2 


30  THK    LIFE    or 

years  has  been  sleeping  over  its  labours 
I  feel  the  truth  of  this  more  deeply  than 
I  can  express,  but  not  a  thousandth  part 
so  deeply  as  I  should.  Having  now  dis- 
missed all  thoughts  of  foreign  service, 
I  hope  to  give  myself  wholly  to  the  work 
that  is  before  me.  ^lay  God  enable  me 
to  live  more  to  him,  lest,  after  having 
preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a 
castaway." 

He  was  still,  however,  not  satisfied  that 
he  was  in  the  situation  w^here  he  could  do 
the  most  good,  and  in  1806  hoped  to  be 
placed  in  the  town  of  South  Shields. 
This  was  a  place  of  great  ignorance  and 
wretchedness  :  but,  he  said,  "  I  have 
looked  over  the  barren  hills,  and  smoke, 
and  dirt,  and  feel  that  the  consideration 
of  15,000  souls  outweighs  every  thing.'* 
"  Knowing,''  as  he  said,  "  how  arduous 
it  is  to  become  the  minister  in  a  town 
so  populous  and  opulent,  where  the  minds 
of  men  were  either  immersed  in  business, 
cm:  degraded  to  the  lowest  state  of  vulgarity 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  31 

and  profaneness  ;"  he  argued  thus  with 
himself, — "  there  are  many  who  are  re- 
conciled to  live  here  all  their  days  in  the 
pursuit  of  wealth,  and  shall  not  the  love  of 
Christ  and  the  honour  of  souls  engage  me 
in  the  same  self-denial  ?  When  a  door  is 
opened  for  the  extension  of  His  kingdom, 
shall  a  minister  of  Christ  say,  I  will  not 
enter  it,  because  the  country  is  dreary,  and 
the  place  is  full  of  filth  and  wretchedness  ? 
God  forbid  !  Here  I  am  ;  if  it  please 
God  to  fix  me  here,  I  shall  be  contented 
to  live  and  die  amongst  them.  These 
things  move  me  not ;  the  only  thing  that 
moves  me,  is  a  fear  lest  I  should  not  bring 
a  right  spirit  to  the  great  work."  But 
those  who  had  the  right  of  placing  a  mi- 
nister in  this  place  chose  another,  and  he 
remained  at  Shelford ;  continuing  also  to 
assist  Mr.  Simeon  at  Cambridge. 


32  THE    LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER   V. 

In  the  spring  of  ISOS  Mr.  Thomason 
was  again  offered  an  appointment  as  chap- 
Iain  to  Calcutta.  He  now  believed  that 
it  was  the  will  of  Providence  he  should 
go^  and  he  wrote  thus  to  his  mother  : 

"  March  4,  1808. 
"  My  acceptance  of  the  appointment 
has  not  yet  come  before  the  court  of  di- 
rectors, yet  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  the 
event  v/ill  assuredly  be  brought  about. 
I  own  that  the  more  I  consider  the  various 
leadings  of  divine  Providence,  and  reflect 
on  the  unwearied  tenor  of  my  former 
wishes  and  plans,  comparing  them  with 
what  I  now  feel,  the  more  am  I  convinced 
that  such  a  change  of  my  situation  will 
be  accomplished.  And  I  think,  my  dear 
mother,  when  you  reflect  on  the  course 
of  my  life  from  the  beginning,  on  the  sin- 
gular manner  in  which  I  was  led  to  de- 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  33 

vote  myself  to  the  ministerial  work,  oq 
the  course  of  providence  by  which  the 
matter  was  brought  about,  and  above  all, 
on  the  earnest  and  repeated  desire  I  have 
felt  again  and  again  for  this  particular  des- 
tination, especially  when  you  think  that 
the  work  of  my  heart  has  been  uniformly 
prevented  by  one  great  obstacle,  and  that 
this  is  now  entirely  removed,  I  think  you 
will  conclude  that  the  time  appears  to  be 
come.  The  same  person  (Mrs.  Thoma- 
son)  who  was  once  decidedly  adverse,  so 
as  not  to  hear  of  it  without  tears,  is  now 
happy  in  the  thought  of  it.  She  no 
longer  thinks  of  the  sea,  nor  of  the  cli- 
mate,  but  counts  it  a  privilege  and  an  ho 
nour  to  be  exposed  in  such  a  cause.  For 
my  own  part,  it  appears  to  be  of  great 
consequence  to  the  work  of  God,  that 
help  should  be  applied  in  that  quarter 
where  it  is  most  wanted,  and  that  where 
most  lasting  good  can  be  done,  ministers 
should  labour.  Now  certainly  God  is 
doing  a  great  work  in  India.     The  labour- 


34  THE    LIFE    OF 

ers  are  few,  and  the  field  amazingly  ex- 
tensive :  they  want  men  who  will  work, 
and  whose  habits  are  such  as  to  render 
them  useful  workmen  in  a  business  where 
application  and  study  are  much  wanted. 
In  this  respect,  my  habits  and  inclinations 
are  favourable.  It  will  be  a  pleasure  to 
me  to  acquire  their  languages,  which  are 
so  much  studied  in  Bengal,  the  acquisition 
of  which  is  so  important  to  usefulness, 
and  my  heart  leans  to  that  part  of  the 
world  with  the  same  desire  it  did  just 
before  I  entered  into  orders.  I  consider 
that  what  others  expose  themselves  to  for 
lucre  and  worldly  honours,  ministers  ought 
to  endure  for  nobler  ends. 

"  All  this,  I  am  sure,  meets  with  corres- 
ponding feelings,  my  dear  mother,  in  your 
own  mind.  You  have  ao;ain  and  again 
given  me  up  to  God,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
you  will  be  supported  on  the  present  occa- 
sion. What  an  honour  and  happiness 
there  is  in  making  sacrifices  for  Christ's 
sake  !     I  am  sure  the  more  we  are  enabled 


THOMAS  T.  THOMASON.  35 

to  do  this,  the  more  solid  peace  shall  we 
enjoy,  and  the  more  shall  we  know  him 
to  be  a  good  master.  I  trust  that  you  will 
be  fitted  for  every  trial,  and  strengthened 
to  do  and  suffer  the  whole  will  of  God." 

His  appointment  being  confirmed,  he 
immediately  commenced  the  study  of  the 
Persian  language,  and  other  preparations 
for  his  departure.  He  sailed  on  the  16th 
of  June,  1808,  from  the  isle  of  Wight,  in 
England,  having  just  entered  the  thirty- 
fifth  year  of  his  age.  His  widowed  mo- 
ther's feelings  on  this  occasion  were  thus 
expressed  : 

"  At  some  seasons  I  am  so  oppressed 
I  cannot  command  myself.  I  sorrow  most 
of  all  that  I  shall  see  that  dear  face  no 
more  for  ever,  and  only  in  proportion  as 
I  feel  a  sense  of  the  Divine  presence,  can 
my  mind  bear  this  deprivation.  I  see 
the  suitableness  of  my  dear  son's  charac- 
ter for  such  a  situation.  I  cannot  doubt 
a  moment  that  whatever  the  Lord  does 


36  THE    LIFE    OF 

must  be  right,  and  excellent,  and  sure, 
and  good — but  I  exquisitely  feel  his  loss ; 
I  wish  and  desire  to  call  upon  myself  to 
look  beyond  this  vale  of  tears  to  that 
celestial  hill  where  God  has  prepared  for 
himself  a  city — when  once  entered  there, 
all  tears  will  be  wiped  away  from  our 
eyes  for  ever.  They  expect  to  sail  to- 
morrow.    God's  will  be  done." 

She  must  have  received  consolation  in 
the  views  of  this  trial,  which  her  son 
gave  in  the  following  letter,  written  when 
on  the  point  of  sailing. 

"  Tr  aver  sounder  weigh,  June  10,  1808. 
"  My  dearest  Mother — This  morn- 
ing we  were  summoned  on  board.  The 
wind  has  become  fair,  and  we  are  proceed- 
ing out  to  sea.  Our  dear  and  honoured 
friend,  Mr.  Simeon,  accompanied  us  to 
the  vessel,  and  is  now  with  us.  We  all 
retired  to  our  cabin,  and  united  in  prayer, 
desiring  to  consecrate  this  spot  to  Godp 
and  to  commit  ourselves  and  all  the  sliip's 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  37 

company  to  his  gracious  care.  Blessed 
be  Godj  we  know  what  it  is  to  draw  nigh 
to  him,  and  we  feel  but  one  concern — that 
we  may  glorify  Him  in  this  world,  and 
enjoy  him  in  the  next.  0  it  is  an  un- 
speakable mercy  to  part  with  a  good  hope 
that  w^e  shall  one  day  meet  where  sorrow 
and  parting  shall  be  no  more. 

"  I  hope,  my  dearest  mother,  you  still 
experience  the  gracious  support  of  our 
heavenly  Father.  When  I  look  back 
at  this  moment,  I  can  discern  innumerable 
mercies  vouchsafed  to  us  both  in  times 
past.  This  is  the  greatest  trial  we  ever 
had — who  knows  what  jo}^  we  may  here- 
after find  in  this  trial  ?  Who  know^s  what 
joy  may  be  reaped  by  thousands  ?  What 
abundant  cause  of  thankfulness  shall  we 
have,  if  by  temporal  sacrifices  many 
should  become  partakers  of  everlasting; 
happiness.  This  indeed  will  be  a  rich 
reward. 

"  I  leave  you  with  many  dear  and  ten- 
der friends  ;  above  all,  with  a  gracious- 
D 


«8  THE    LIFE    OF 

God,  who  has  guided,  preserved,  and 
blessed  you,  from  the  beginning  even 
till  now.  To  his  gracious  keeping  I 
commit  you,  humbly  hoping  and  believ- 
ing that  he  will  supply  your  every  want 
out  of  the  riches  of  his  grace  in  Christ 
Jesus.  May  He  be  your  portion,  your 
shield,  and  your  exceeding  great  reward  ! 
Amen.     Amen." 

They  had  a  pleasant  voyage  of  five 
months,  and  were  expecting  daily  to  see 
the  shore  of  Hindoostan,  when  they  met 
with  a  calamity  which  can  best  be  told 
by  copying  his  own  account  of  it  in  a 
letter  to  his  mother  ;  inserting  a  few  sen- 
tences from  another  to  Mr.  Simeon. 

''Nov.  13,  ISOS,  Off  the  Sand  Heads. 
"  ^  0  be  thankful  unto  the  Lord,  for  he 
is  gracious,  and  his  mercy  endureth  for 
'ever.'  Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord 
say  so  ;  '  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and 
all  that  is  within  me  bless  his  holy  name.' 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  39 

You  will  read  the  narrative  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  to  us  with  tears  of  joy  and  thank- 
fulness. Our  voyage  had  been  singularly 
propitious,  from  Madeira  down  the  coast 
of  South  America,  to  the  cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  from  thence  to  the  bay  of 
Bengal.  We  had  fine  weather  all  the 
way  ;  no  gales  to  alarm,  no  calms  to  de- 
tain us.  I  was  chiefly  occupied  in  a  dili- 
gent study  of  the  Persian  language,  Mrs. 
T.  in  instructing  the  children  :  our  days 
passed  quickly  and  profitably.  But  what- 
ever may  have  taken  place  during  the 
voyage,  the  conclusion  of  it  has  been 
marked  by  so  signal  an  interposition  of 
divine  Providence,  that  we  have  neither 
time  nor  inclination  to  fix  our  mind  on 
any  other  object.  How  will  your  heart 
be  filled  with  thankfulness,  and  your  lips 
show  forth  his  praise,  when  you  hear  that 
the  unworthy  writer  of  the  following  nar- 
rative, with  his  beloved  wife  and  children, 
have  been  almost  miraculously  saved  from 
destruction. 


40  THE    LIFE    OF 

"  Whilst  events  are  still  fresh  in  my 
recollection,  and  in  order  that  they  may 
ever  continue  so,  I  will  endeavour  to  re- 
late that  most  wonderful  deliverance  from 
shipwreck,  by  which  God  has  been  pleased 
to  preserve  my  wife  and  family,  with 
many  other  persons.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  7th,  we  approached  cape  Ne- 
grais.  Soundings  were  made,  which  left 
us  no  room  to  apprehend  any  immediate 
danger.  At  half-past  four  they  were 
twenty-one  fathoms  ;  which,  being  cer- 
tified to  the  captain,  he  immediately  came 
on  deck,  and  gave  orders  for  heaving  the 
ship  to.  The  words  were  scarcely  pro- 
nounced, when  the  ship  struck  upon  a 
rock.  At  this  time  the  Earl  Spencer  was 
so  near,  the  captain  hailed  and  cried  out, 
they  were  amongst  breakers.  The  Earl 
Spencer  providentially  escaped,  and  actu- 
ally passed  over  the  reef  without  striking ; 
but  our  own  ship,  notwithstanding  every 
exertion,  continued  to  strike  with  violence 
The  first  shock  brought  down  the  mizen 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  41 

top-mast  ;  the  wind  then  blowing  fresh. 
In  a  moment  the  cry  of  distress  was 
raised,  which  was  heard  by  the  Spencer, 
and  which  it  very  soon  appeared  was  not 
made  without  reason.  The  passengers 
and  all  the  ship's  company  were  soon 
upon  deck,  and  saw  with  the  deepest 
anguish  the  danger  in  which  they  were. 
I  had  previously  gone  down  and  informed 
Mrs.  T.  that  the  ship  had  struck,  and  that 
none  but  God  could  save  us.  The  heel- 
ing of  the  ship  was  now  tremendous,  and 
the  blows  continued,  till  the  rudder  was 
broken  with  an  awful  crash,  that  seemed  to 
portend  that  the  ship  should  immediately 
go  to  the  bottom.  Who  but  those  who 
have  actually  borne  a  part  in  such  scenes 
can  conceive  the  dreadful  sensations  thus 
produced  ?  We  endeavoured  to  commit 
ourselves  to  the  mercy  of  God,  and  then 
Mrs.  Thomason,  snatching  up  our  dear  J.^ 
followed  by  Mrs. ,  with  0 ,  re- 
paired on  deck.  She  had  nothing  on  her 
but  a  counterpane,  and  the  dear  children 
d2 


42  THE    LIFE    OF 

each  a  sheet.  We  ckmg  together  near 
the  round  house,  and  lifted  up  our  hearts 
to  God,  It  was  an  awful  scene  :  every 
countenance  was  filled  with  terror  and 
despair.  Thus  in  one  short  moment  they 
had  exchanged  their  peaceful  slumbers 
for  all  the  horrors  of  threatening  destruc- 
tion. Through  the  mercy  of  God  the 
wind  soon  moderated  ;  a  circumstance 
which  gave  time  to  take  proper  measures 
for  saving  the  crew.  The  mainmast  was 
first  cut  down,  which  fell  over  the  side. 
After,  the  foremast  was  cut  away,  and  we 
were  thus  left  a  mere  hull,  which  was 
momentarily  coming  to  pieces  ;  at  this 
critical  juncture,  the  cutter  unfortunately 
went  adrift;  the  jolly-boat  was  despatched 
after  it,  and  in  the  mean  time  the  crew 
were  all  employed  in  clearing  and  launch- 
ing the  long-boat.  This  was  a  long  and 
difficult  operation,  but  as  all  our  lives  de- 
pended on  its  success,  the  men  exerted 
themselves  to  the  utmost.  Before  they 
had   fairly  raised    it   from    its   place  the 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  43 

ship's  back  was  broken,  and  at  this  mo- 
ment I  felt  that  nothing  but  a  miracle 
could  save  us.  I  lifted  up  my  heart  to 
God,  and  exhorted  Mrs.  Thomason  to  do 
so  too.  I  committed  myself  and  all  my 
concerns  to  Him.  Meanwhile,  a  squall 
of  wind  and  rain  caused  the  ship  to  beat 
violently  ;  w^e  all  stood  on  the  deck 
drenched  to  the  skin,  looking  with  anx- 
ious impatience  to  the  launch  of  the  long- 
boat. The  ladies  and  children,  having 
been  roused  suddenly  from  their  beds, 
were  wet  and  half  naked,  and  most  piti- 
able objects.  I  ran  down  into  my  cabin 
to  secure  something  from  the  wreck  which 
I  might  preserve,  if  saved  from  destruc- 
tion, as  a  memorial.  In  vain  I  sought  in 
the  confusion  of  the  moment  for  my 
pocket-bible  ;  at  length,  hastily  snatching 
up  my  Hebrew  psalter,  with  a  volume  of 
the  Greek  Testament,  and  my  mother's 
last  and  valued  present,  the  Golden  Trea- 
sury, I  put  them  into  my  bosom,  and  flew 
to  my  dear  Mrs.  Thomason  and  the  chil- 


44  THE    LIFE    OF 

dren  on  the  deck.  In  passing  through 
the  cabin  to  the  ladder,  it  was  painful  to 
hear  the  rushing  of  the  water  in  the  hold, 
and  to  see  the  decks  giving  way,  and  the 
boxes  floating  about  on  all  sides.  Arrived 
on  the  deck,  I   remained   with   my   deal 

B ,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the 

long-boat  launched  into  the  water.  The 
captain  then  called  for  the  ladies,  who 
were  one  by  one  conveyed  into  the  boal 
by  a  rope.  The  gentlemen  followed,  and 
the  crew,  to  the  number  of  ninety-one  : 
more  could  not  be  admitted  with  safety. 
In  the  cutter  were  eighteen,  in  the  jolly- 
boat  eleven.  A  sail  was  hastily  thrown 
into  the  boat,  and  we  left  the  wreck  with 
mingled  sensations  of  joy,  regret,  and 
apprehension.  New  dangers  indeed  were 
now  before  us.  Our  other  boats  were  out 
of  sight,  and  though  we  could  see  the 
land  from  the  ship,  it  was  at  a  great  dis- 
tance ;  our  boat  was  crowded,  the  sea 
high,  the  weather  boisterous, and  the  shor^ 
^yhen  reached,  barbarous  and  inhospitable. 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  45 

This  was  a  trying  situation.  How  little 
did  we  think,  a  few  hours  before,  that  we 
should  in  such  circumstances  cast  a  long- 
ing, lingering  look  on  the  Travers.  The 
WTeck  afforded  a  distressing  spectacle  ; 
we  turned  our  heads  from  the  scene,  and 
looked  before  us,  and  committed  ourselves 
to  the  guidance  of  Providence.  Danger- 
ous as  our  situation  was,  I  found  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  realize  the  nearness 
of  death.  I  kept  lifting  up  my  heart  to 
God,  and  relied  on  his  gracious  protec- 
tion. We  had  brought  a  little  sail  from 
the  wreck,  which,  with  the  help  of  our 
oar,  kept  our  boat  before  the  wind.  It 
was  about  seven  o'clock  when  we  com- 
mitted ourselves  to  the  boat ;  soon  after^ 
a  heavy  squall  of  rain  came  on,  which 
rendered  our  situation  still  more  gloomy 
and  distressing.  At  the  end  of  an  hour 
and  a  half  we  saw  the  other  two  ships 
at  a  great  distance,  and  they,  after  we 
perceived  them,  made  sail  from  us. 
This  was  a  distressing  moment,  as  our 


46  THE    LOE    OF 

last  resource  seemed  to  fail  us.  Mean 
while  a  tremendous  squall  involved  us  in 
darkness,  and  drenched  us  with  sheets  of 
water.  The  boat  shipped  much  water, 
and  it  was  extremely  difficult,  on  account 
of  her  being  so  heavy  loaded,  to  keep  her 
before  the  wind  ;  at  length,  however,  by 
tlie  good  providence  of  God,  the  weather 
cleared  up,  and  we  saw  the  other  two 
ships  heave  to,  in  order  to  receive  us. 
This  was  a  cheering  si2;ht,  and  with  inex- 
pressible  joy  we  looked  toward  them,  and 
thanked  God  as  we  observed  the  lessening 
distance.  However,  a  third  heavy  squall 
came  on,  and  hid  them  from  our  view  : 
through  this  we  were  preserved  by  the 
same  gracious  Providence,  and  as  we  ap- 
proached the  Earl  Spencer,  we  saw  the  poop 
and  deck  covered  with  spectators,  behold- 
ing our  progress,  and  longing  to  receive 
us.  Passing  under  the  stern,  I  felt  quite 
overpowered  :  it  was  indeed  an  affecting 
sight.  Above  a  hundred  fellow-creatures, 
rescued  from  a  watery  grave,  were  joy- 


THOMAS    T.  THOMPSON.  47 

fully  received  aboard,  cheered  by  the  loud 
and  cordial  congratulations  of  their  de- 
liverers. It  was  a  feast  to  the  benevolent 
captain  of  the  Earl  Spencer  and  the  crew 
to  be  instrumental  in  the  preservation  of 
so  many  lives,  and  it  was  on  our  part  a 
deliverance  never  to  be  forgotten.  The 
continued  emotions  of  joy,  surprise,  cor- 
diality, gratitude,  cannot  be  described  ; 
the  thing  must  be  seen  to  be  felt.  It  was 
half-past  ten  when  we  arrived  at  the  ship, 
having  been  three  hours  and  a  half  ex- 
posed in  an  open  boat  on  a  heavy  sea, 
during  which  time  we  had  sailed  about 
ten  miles.  Before  we  arrived,  a  gentle- 
man on  board  the  Earl  Spencer  saw  the 
Travers  break  in  the  middle,  and  the  fore 
part  go  down.  It  afterwards  blew  very 
hard,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that 
before  the  afternoon,  every  vestige  had 
disappeared.  I  have  omitted  to  say  that 
my  dear  E.,  awakened  by  the  violence 
of  the  shock,  immediately  fell  on  her 
knees,  and  prayed  with  much  earnestness 


48  THE    LIFE    OF 

that  God  would  pardon  her  soul.  It  was 
with  difficulty  she  could  be  torn  from  the 
bed.  On  deck  she  renewed  her  cries, 
saying,  ^  Let  me  die  with  papa.  Lord, 
forgive  my  sins  for  Christ's  sake.'  B.'s 
agitation  at  first  was  very  great,  after- 
wards it  subsided.  We  stood  all  by  one 
another,  and  solemnly  gave  ourselves  up 
to  God  :  and  neither  then,  nor  now,  nor 
at  any  preceding  moment,  did  we  feel  the 
smallest  regret  at  having  left  our  native 
country.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  men- 
tion the  attention  of  passengers  towards 
us.  One  of  them  ran  hastily  down  and 
recovered  my  watch,  the  alarum  which 
you  gave  me  several  years  ago,  and  which 
will  be  one  hundred  times  more  valuable 
than  ever.  That,  with  the  trifling  articles 
above  mentioned,  are  all  the  riches  that 
remain  to  us.  When  we  were  obliged  to 
leave  several  of  our  fellow-creatures  on 
board,  it  was  out  of  the  question  to  en- 
cumber a  boat  already  overloaded.  One 
of  the   servants,  seeing  Mrs.   Thomason 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  49 

standins;  in  the  heavy  rain,  without  shoes 
or  stockings,  approached  her,  saying, 
*  You  have  no  shoes ;  take  mine.'  I  never 
can  forget  this.  Another  brought  her  a 
coat,  a  third  a  blanket  for  J.  and  a  coat 
for  E.  But  I  cannot  convey  an  adequate 
idea  of  the  scene." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

On  his  arrival  in  Calcutta,  he  met  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  the  missionary,  there. 

"We  both,"  he  writes,  "sat  down,  but 
it  was  long  before  my  tears  suffered  me 
to  speak.  They  were  tears,  as  I  told  him, 
not  of  sorrow,  but  of  joy  and  thankful- 
ness, wonder  and  praise.  He  told  us  to 
look  around  the  walls — the  furniture  and 
the  house  were  ours.  It  was  a  house  built 
in  faith  and  prayer  as  the  residence  of  a 
missionary,  out  of  the  contributions  of  a 
number  of  poor  persons,  who,  many  years 
past,  had  subscribed  towards  a  fund  for 
E 


50  THE    LIFE    OF 

the  support  of  the  gospel,  and  united  their 
prayers  that  God  would  send  them  a  mi- 
nister. Need  I  say  that  every  chair  and 
table  spoke  to  us  with  a  voice  that  thrilled 
through  our  hearts  and  overwhelmed  us? 
Truly  we  could  then  praise  God  for  our 
shipwreck.  We  could  see  a  good  reason 
for  the  dispensation.  It  was  plain  that 
God  had  thrown  us  upon  this  praying 
people,  that  he  had  cast  us  from  the  rest 
of  the  world,  and  laid  us  under  the  obliga- 
tions of  Christian  love,  in  order  that  we 
may  be  devoted  to  the  sacred  charge  of 
feeding  his  sheep.  He  has  placed  us  in 
circumstances  where  every  thing  is  actu- 
ally the  fruit  of  faith  and  love,  in  order 
to  teach  us  that  we  have  but  one  thing  to 
do.  Mr.  Brown  introduced  us  into  the 
church  and  vestry,  where  many  had  assem- 
bled the  evening  before,  to  thank  God  for 
our  deliverance,  and  pray  for  a  blessing 
on  the  minister  preserved  to  them.  Since 
we  came  here,  we  have  had  nothing  to  do 
of  a  worldly  nature  ;   all  care  has  been 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  51 

taken  from  us  by  our  Christian  friends 
Think  not  of  our  hardships,  losses,  dan^ 
gers,  but  of  the  honour  He  has  put  upon 
us  in  sending  us  to  a  praying  people — 
sending  us,  with  loss  of  all,  to  persons  who 
supply  our  wants  with  tears  of  thankful- 
ness ;  let  not  a  thought  of  assisting  us 
enter  your  minds — know  all  of  you,  we 
stand  in  need  of  nothing  but  your  prayers : 
these  we  implore." 

On  the  second  Sunday  after  landing, 
Mr.  Thomason  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
India.  Mr.  Brown  preached  the  same 
day  on  the  duty  of  thanksgiving  for  the 
preservation  of  so  many  lives  in  the  ship- 
wreck. It  has  been  often  remarked  that 
neither  the  remarkable  judgments  nor 
mercies  of  God  often  lead  men  to  repent- 
ance. It  is  generally  the  case  that  as  soon 
as  their  alarm  is  over,  they  return  to 
greater  sin  than  before,  and  forget  the 
Lord  that  has  afflicted  and  delivered  them. 
This  has  been  observed  in  our  own  coun- 
y  when  dreadful  diseases,  such   as  the 


i>iC  THE    LIFE    OF 

cholera,  have  prevailed.  Then  men  were 
afraid  for  their  lives,  some  left  off  their 
open  sins,  and  many  went  to  the  churches 
to  pray  that  the  disease  might  be  stopped. 
But  when  the  sickness  was  over,  very  few 
remembered  their  resolutions  and  their 
prayers,  or  returned  thanks  to  God  for 
his  mercy.  So  when  our  Lord  cured  ten 
men  of  leprosy,  one  only  gave  glory  to 
God.*  When  the  day  of  thanksgiving 
was  held  at  the  church  in  Calcutta,  very 
few  of  the  hundred  and  twenty -two  who 
were  saved  in  such  a  wonderful  manner 
from  death  were  present ;  and  when  the 
Lord's-supper  was  administered  on  the 
same  occasion,  only  four  of  them,  besides 
Mr.  Thomason's  family,  were  present 
Nor  was  he  contented  with  the  mere  ser- 
vice of  thanksgiving.  He  knew  that  the 
event  was  intended  for  his  good,  and  often 
looked  back  to  it,  not  only  with  new  grati- 
tude, but  as  a  warning  that  he  should  be 
more  faithful  and  zealous  in  the  cause  of 
*  Luke  xvii.  11—18. 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  53 

his  Saviour.     Five  months  afterwards  he 
wrote  to  Mr.  Simeon  as  follows  : — 

"  I  bless  God  the  shipwreck  has  not  been 
wholly  forgotten,  though  I  seem  to  be  only 
beginning  to  improve  it.  If  the  Lord 
himself  had  not  been  on  our  side,  even 
such  a  mercy  would  have  been  wholly 
forgotten.  Experience  shows  us  that  ex- 
cept he  give  us  grace  to  improve  his  dis- 
pensations, no  judgments,  no  mercies,  no 
warnings,  will  avail  any  thing.  In  our 
almost  miraculous  escape  from  the  deep, 
God  has  given  us  a  new  and  impressive 
call,  for  which  we  have  reason  to  bless 
his  name  ;  but  moi^e  especially  have  w^e 
reason  to  bless  him  for  not  having  suffered 
rt  to  escape  from  our  wretched  hearts. 
It  has  in  some  measure  led  us  to  renewed 
earnestness  and  deep  humiliation  before 
God,  and  now,  at  the  end  of  five  months,  I 
feel  a  growing  sense  of  gratitude  to  the 
Lord  for  having  brought  us  to  India  in 
the  way  he  has.  Many  of  our  friends  at 
E  2 


04  THE    LIFE    OF 

home  have  pitied  us,  but  indeed  it  is  a  great 
matter  of  joy.  I  value  it  as  a  most  pre- 
cious jewel,  and  would  not  on  any  account 
recover  from  the  deep  what  we  have  lost, 
even  were  it  in  my  power.  The  Lord 
moves  in  a  mysterious  way,  but  all  his 
doings  are  in  faithfulness  and  mercy. 
We  were  coming  to  India  flushed  with 
hope,  full  of  ardour  and  sanguine  expec- 
tations, much  animal  fervour,  and  an 
amazing  portion  of  self-sufficiency.  He 
casts  us  upon  a  rock  ;  it  was  a  hard  blow, 
and  it  spoke  loudly,  ^  Mind  what  you 
are  about.'  We  were  richly  furnished 
wuth  books  and  stores  of  various  kinds  ; 
he  takes  them  all  from  us  ;  sends  us  here 
as  castaways,  completely  stripped  of 
every  thing  but  our  trust  in  him  and  hope 
in  his  word.  Blessed  be  his  name,  I  say 
again  and  again,  that  he  gives  us  also  a 
heart  to  think  of  these  things,  and  to  pray 
for  a  right  improvement  of  them.  The 
searchings  of  heart  on  this  occasion  have 
been  very  salutary,  though  painful  ;  and 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  55 

we  can  testify  to  the  praise  of  his  grace, 
that  we  are  labouring  with  new  earnest- 
ness, new  zeal,  new  love,  new  thankful- 
ness, to  live  wholly  for  God.  And  now, 
my  dearly  beloved  friend,  you  have  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  hear  something  appro- 
priate, w^hat  can  I  say  to  you  ?  What  can 
I  communicate  to  you  but  the  actual  work- 
ings of  my  heart  ?  You  will  reasonably 
expect  that  such  an  introduction  to  India 
ought  to  be  accompanied  with  important 
effects  on  my  own  mind,  and  ought  to  lead 
to  a  new  and  more  devoted  surrender  of 
myself  to  the  Lord.  I  beseech  you  when 
you  write  express  freely  your  views  upon 
this  subject.  Tell  me  what  effects  ought 
to  follow  from  a  dispensation  of  this  na- 
ture. I  charge  you  before  God,  as  you 
value  the  cause  of  your  blessed  Redeemer, 
and  desire  to  promote  it,  to  put  me  in 
mind  of  these  things  with  authority. 
Ask  whether  I  am  living  more  nearly  to 
God  :  remind  me  of  this  very  request  I 
am  now  making,  that  I  may  be  stirred  up 


56  THE    LIFE    OF 

to  diligent  self-examination,  lest  I  be  put 
to  shame  before  God  and  man.  I  pray 
God  that  his  blessing  may  rest  upon  you, 
both  in  your  public  and  private,  and  in 
all  your  social  duties  :  to  all  the  dear 
people  at  Shelford  and  Cambridge,  pre- 
sent my  Christian  love.  I  look  back  upon 
my  ministry  amongst  them  with  deep 
shame  and  grief  of  heart  I  have  injured 
them  all,  and  I  shall  never  be  able  to  ex- 
press ihis  to  them  in  person.  I  cannot 
but  do  it  before  God,  and  implore  God 
for  my  innumerable  neglects  and  want 
of  spiritual  zeal  and  faithfulness  whilst 
amongst  them.  I  never  loved  them  so 
much  as  at  this  moment,  and  never  so 
earnestly  desired  their  spiritual  welfare.^ 

And  on  the  return  of  the  day  a  year 
afterwards,  he  wrote  thus  : — 

"  The  time,  and  situation,  and  circum 
stances  of  the  present  moment  are  all  si 
hiteresting,  that  my  full  heart  knows  not 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  57 

how  to  commence  the  present  communi- 
cation. It  is  the  day  after  the  memorable 
7th  of  November,  which  we  have  been 
spending  together  in  retirement,  six  miles 
down  the  river,  at  the  house  of  a  friend. 
Yesterday  we  endeavoured  to  recall  to 
our  minds  the  event  of  that  day,  and  were 
enabled,  blessed  be  God,  to  humble  our- 
selves before  him  in  some  measure,  and 
to  encourage  ourselves  and  our  beloved 
children  anew  in  his  service.  It  was  to 
us  a  solemn  and  profitable  day.  The 
situation  is  on  the  banks  of  that  river  to 
which  we  came  through  such  a  mysterious 
train  of  providences,  and  along  which  we 
proceeded  naked  and  destitute  to  the  place 
of  our  destination.  The  circumstances, 
too,  under  which  I  write  are  peculiar. 
At  family  prayer  we  had  renewed  our 
vows  of  yesterday,  and  had  withdrawn 
into  my  study,  and  were  conversing 
together  in  the  most  serious  manner, 
when  letters  from  Europe  were  put  into 
•ur  hands,  containing  all  the  affectionate 


58  THE    LIFE    OF 

congratulations,  sympathies,  prayers,  and 
praises  of  our  beloved  friends.  How  af- 
fecting a  close  to  the  profitable  scene  ! 
My  mother's  feelings  were  anticipated — 
so  were  yours  :  but  your  kind  and  tender 
expressions  far  exceed  any  thing  we  looked 
for,  and  fill  us  with  an  overwhelming  sense 
of  the  undeserved  goodness  of  God." 

Whilst  he  was  studying  the  languages 
of  the  country,  his  services  as  a  minister 
could  only  be  given  to  the  English  in- 
habitants of  Calcutta.  His  congregation 
was  at  first  not  more  than  two  hundred 
and  fifty  persons.*     He  preached  on  the 

•  The  first  protestant  mission  in  Bengal  was  esta- 
blished by  Rev.  John  Z.  Kiernander,  from  the  society 
for  promoting  Christian  knowledge,  in  1766.  He 
formed  a  church  in  Calcutta,  which  was  the  only  pro- 
testant one  in  Bengal  for  about  thirty  years.  He  was 
a  successful  minister  in  this  church  until  1787,  when 
the  house  was  purchased  and  devoted  to  the  purposes 
of  a  missionary  church.  Rev.  David  Brown  was  the 
successor  of  Mr.  Kiernander  until  about  1811,  when 
he  was  followed  by  Mr.  Thomason. 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  59 

morning  and  evening  of  every  Lord's- 
day,  and  on  every  Thursday  evening  ;  and 
on  Saturday  he  instructed  the  children, 
who  met  in  the  church  with  their  parents 
and  friends.  One  evening  in  the  week 
was  spent  in  meeting  at  private  houses 
for  prayer  and  the  explanation  of  the 
Scriptures.  His  daily  employments  were 
thus  regulated : 

^*  We  rise  very  early,  and  return  from 
our  morning  rides  by  six  ;  at  half-past 
six  we  have  family  prayer  ;  at  seven  we 
breakfast.  Between  that  and  two,  I  am 
in  my  study  ;  at  two  we  dine  ;  at  three  I 
am  in  my  study  again  till  five,  then  we 
have  family  prayer  ;  from  six  till  nine  or 
ten  is  occupied  in  riding  and  visiting 
friends  ;  in  private  parties  and  public 
duties.  I  have  found  it  necessary  to  de- 
cline all  invitations  to  dinner,  without 
exception.  This  has  enabled  me  to  be 
regular,  and  very  retired  without  giving 
offence." 

"You    have  no   idea  in  England    (he 


60  THE    LIFE    OF 

writes,  alter  a  somewhat  lono;er  residence 
in  India)  of  the  peculiar  difficulties  which 
oppose  the  progress  of  the  gospel  in  this 
place.  They  are  prodigious,  and  in  the 
highest  degree  discouraging  ;  arising  partly 
from  the  nature  of  the  climate,  and  partly 
from  the  nature  of  society,  and  chiefly 
from  the  close  intercourse  with  the 
wretched  natives,  who  are  more  degraded 
than  you  can  imagine,  and  who  have  the 
entire  charge  of  children,  and  manage- 
ment of  household  matters.  The  natives 
swarm  around  us,  and  corrupt  the  minds 
of  children  from  the  earliest  years.  To 
an  Englishman,  the  effect  of  their  exam- 
ple, and  the  contagion  of  their  language 
and  practices,  cannot  be  adequately  repre- 
sented. Some  favourable  exceptions,  but 
only  a  few,  can  be  mentioned.  Religion 
alone  raises  them — this  gives  a  solidity 
of  character — they  become  trusty  and 
well-behaved.  These  form  a  great  ma- 
jority of  our  congregations.  The  number 
of  rich  people    and   company's  servants 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  61 

who  come  to  church  is  comparatively 
small.  The  better  sort  of  people  send 
their  children  home  at  five  or  six  ;  until 
then,  they  are  under  the  charge  of  native 
servants,  and  their  minds  are  poisoned  as 
far  as  they  can  be  at  that  tender  age. 
The  parting  from  them  is  heart-breaking. 
They  part  with  them  very  often  never 
to  see  them  more.  This  produces  a  sad 
derangement  in  society.  There  is  no 
such  thing  as  a  domestic  circle.  The 
olive  branches  round  the  table,  so  delight- 
ful in  England,  are  unknown.  The  chil- 
dren cannot  even  speak  their  mother 
tongue  ;  they  have  to  learn  English  on 
their  way  home.  There  is  a  dissolution 
of  all  the  tender,  amiable,  cheering  house- 
hold virtues.  These  observations  apply 
to'  the  far  greater  number  amongst  us. 
Some  there  are  who  diligently  labour 
against  these  disadvantages.  They  live 
retired,  and  do  all  they  can  to  counteract 
the  influence  of  the  native  servants.  If 
very  conscientious,  they  may  succeed  ; 
F 


62  THE    LIFE    OF  » 

but  the  instances  are  very  rare — the  sacri 
fices  of  liberty  and  pleasure  are  so  great. 
The  business  of  a  minister  lies  in  encou- 
raging those  who  are  making  some  en- 
deavours for  the  good  of  their  families  ; 
in  assisting  and  presiding  over  their  efforts 
— but  the  progress  must  be  slow.  It  is  a 
fixed  rule  with  us,  that  the  children  are 
always  in  the  presence  of  one  amongst 
us.  We  never  suffer  them,  not  for  a  mo- 
ment, to  have  any  intercourse  with  tl\e 
servants  alone.'' 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Mr.  Thomason's  congregation  soon  in- 
creased, and  his  discourses  were  received 
with  deep  and  solemn  attention,  and  he 
knew  of  several  instances  in  which  they 
were  blessed  to  the  conversion  of  souls. 
Before  he  had  preached  six  months  the 
house  of  worship  had  to  be  enlarged,  and 
he  found  great  happiness  in  his  work. 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASON.  63 

"  You  know,"  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Simeon, 
*  the  nature  of  regular  employment  in 
the  pulpit ;  the  word  of  God  does  not  ap- 
pear to  be  very  rapidly  advancing,  yet  we 
hear  of  much  that  encourages  us.  The 
work  of  catechising  seems  to  promise 
good.  But  we  want  the  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit  ;  and  until  the  Spirit  be  poured 
upon  us  from  on  high,  no  very  great  good 
can  take  place  amongst  us  :  we  are  pray- 
ing for  this  ;  without  this  we  may  toil  all 
night  and  catch  nothing.  0  that  the 
preacher  may  catch  the  sacred  fire,  and 
the  people  rejoice  and  be  glad  ! 

"  I  find  our  Thursday  evenings  profita- 
ble times.  We  are  going  through  the 
gospel  of  St.  John  :  the  congregation 
does  not  much  exceed  one  hundred  and 
fifty  people.  But  they  come  to  hear  plain 
truths,  and  we  often  find  the  Lord  is  with 
us  indeed.  We  are  in  the  sixth  chapter — 
the  bread  of  life.  My  subject  this  even- 
ing includes  these  two  verses,  '  He  that 
eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh  my  blood, 


64  THE    LIFE    OE 

dwelleth  in  me,  and  I  in  him.  As  thc> 
living  Father  hath  sent  me,  and  I  live  by 
the  Father,  so  he  that  eateth  me,  even  he 
shall  live  by  me.'  What  can  a  poor 
empty  creature  say  of  the  fulness  there 
is  in  Jesus  ?  what  can  I  say  of  Jesus 
dwelling  in  me,  and  my  dwelling  in 
Jesus  ?  0  how  we  fritter  away  these 
passages,  if  we  are  not  living  nigh  to 
God,  and  enjoying  the  glorious  knowledge 
of  the  gospel  in  daily  dependence  on  the 
Redeemer.  This  I  want  very  m.uch,  very 
lamentably,  and  my  people  will  be  mea- 
gerly  fed.  That  word  ^  dwelleth  in  me, 
and  I  in  them,'  fills  my  soul  with  wonder, 
and  abases  me  to  the  dust.  I  would  know 
it,  and  feel  it,  but  know  not  how.  I  would 
speak  of  it  and  recommend  it,  but  have 
no  heart  for  the  marvellous  theme.  Will 
God  in  every  deed  dwell  in  this  diseased 
polluted  heart  ?  Does  He  dwell  there  } — 
and  can  I,  a  vile  and  wretched  sinner,  be 
said  to  dwell  in  him  ?  Though  I  scarcely 
dare  say,  Yes,  yet  I  fain  would  come  and 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  65 

cast  myself  upon  the  Saviour.  It  is  my 
only  refuge  and  hope,  and  if  this  reposing 
of  the  soul  in  Jesus  be  indeed  to  eat  his 
flesh,  and  drink  his  blood,  I  would  now 
do  it,  yea,  I  must  do  it.  Still  I  cannot 
lay  hold  of  that  word — ^  dwelleth  in  me, 
and  I  in  him.'  I  feel  very  remote  from 
this  ;  it  is  too  high,  I  cannot  reach  it. 
I  feel  like  a  blind  man  leading  the  blind. 
My  comfort  lies  in  the  freeness  and  sove- 
reignty of  God's  grace ;  for  while  it  gives 
^rong  meat  to  those  who  are  fall  grown, 
it  administers  milk  to  the  babe. 

"  My  dear  and  honoured  brother,  you 
know  not  how  very  far  I  am  from  being 
a  minister  of  the  gospel.  I  am  no  gospel 
minister,  for  I  know  it  not.  I  sit  down 
and  pen  some  miserable  thoughts  on  Scrip- 
ture, and  occupy  a  certain  portion  of  time 
in  talking  about  the  love  of  God,  and  the 
sufficiency  of  Jesus,  and  the  work  of  the 
Spirit ;  but  it  is  sad  trifling  with  myself 
and  my  hearers.  Surprising  is  that  blind- 
ness which  hides  from  me  the  glory  of 
F  2 


66  THE    LIFE    OF 

the  gospel,  and  that  unbelief  which  puts 
it  away  from  my  soul,  and  that  dishonesty 
which  starts  from  the  presence  of  a  holy 
God,  and  excludes  me,  if  I  may  so  say, 
from  the  holy  of  holies  :  but  where  am  I 
wandering  ? — this  is  very  unprofitable  to 
you.  0  my  brother,  pardon  me,  and 
weep  over  me,  and  pray  for  me.  One 
good  end  will  be  answered  by  this  com- 
munication, you  will  know  better  how  tG 
pray  for  me.  I  want,  for  myself  and 
people,  more  of  the  simplicity  of  the 
gospel.  I  want  to  come  to  Christ  and 
bring  them  with  me  :  I  long  for  the 
time  when  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer 
and  fulness  of  this  salvation  shall  so  oc- 
cupy my  mind,  that  in  studying  and 
preaching  I  may  have  no  other  object  in 
view,  but  speak  always  out  of  the  abun- 
dance of  the  heart. 

"There  are  great  snares  attending 
our  technical  mode  of  sermon-making. 
Though  I  speak  to  a  man  famous  for 
Helps  to  Composition,  I  speak  the  truth; 


TKOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  67 

and  know  the  danger  of  this  *art  of 
preaching  ;'  we  are  apt  to  chalk  out  our 
work,  and  cut  and  prune,  and  then  what 
a  judicious,  fine,  persuasive  discourse  is 
this  !  And  oftentimes  our  love  of  Christ 
and  of  souls  evaporates  in  our  neat  exor- 
dium, and  luminous  distribution  and  close 
application  to  the  sermon.  I  am  ashamed, 
and  tired,  and  sick,  heart-sick  of  this. 
I  have  smarted  for  it,  and  do  every  day." 
When  a  ship  was  taken  by  the  French, 
by  which  his  friends  at  home  had  sent 
him  a  number  of  books  and  other  tokens 
of  their  affection,  he  said  :  "  It  seems  as 
though  God  would  complete  the  weaning 
he  has  begun  ;  and  we  bless  him  for  it. 
Every  thing  by  which  England  could  be 
remembered  is  swept  away  :  but  what  is 
above  all  price,  the  bond  of  love  is  in- 
creased a  thousand  fold  ;  we  are  more  one 
with  you  in  spirit ;  more  closely  united 
in  Christ,  more  endeared  by  the  common 
interest  we  feel  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  the  common  prospect  of  glory." 


68  THE    LIFE    01' 

In  the  second  hot  season  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Calcutta,  he  suffered  so  much 
from  the  climate,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  his  duties  for  several  weeks,  and 
take  an  excursion  up  the  Hoogly  river. 
His  description  of  the  climate  shows  how 
trying  it  must  be  to  persons  who  come 
from  one  that  is  milder  and  more  re2;uiar. 

"  April  :  it  is  the  middle  of  the  hot 
season,  we  have  fiery  days  and  stormy 
nights.  Thus  it  has  pleased  a  gracious 
Providence  to  temper  the  severities  of  the 
climate.  If  the  hot  days  were  to  con- 
tinue long,  we  should  sink  at  once.  When 
the  refreshing  winds  fail  us,  the  sultriness 
is  almost  insupportable.  Then  comes  a 
storm  that  cools  the  air.  Then  the  heat 
returns.  Then  the  lull.  Then  again  the 
storm  for  several  days  successively.  We 
rise  to  go  forth  and  inhale  the  cool  of  the 
morning  and  rejoice.  About  June  comes 
the  rainy  season  for  two  months.  This 
refreshes  us.  From  the  middle  of  August 
to  the  middle  of  October,  the  clouds  having 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  69 

poured  forth  their  contents,  the  country- 
is  soaked.  The  winter  having  left  us, 
the  heat  of  the  sun  draws  forth  the  mois- 
ture, and  we  live  almost  in  a  hot  bath. 
All  nature  seems  to  droop — man,  beast, 
and  vegetable  sympathize  with  each  other. 
Were  this  season  to  be  prolonged,  few 
could  endure  it.  About  the  middle  of 
October  we  have  sharp  mornings  and  bra- 
cing airs.     Thus  the  years  go  round." 

He  tried  to  make  every  occurrence  use- 
ful to  his  own  heart.  Dating  his  letter 
Chinsurah,  October  1,  1810,  he  writes 
— "  We  are  thirty  miles  up  the  river  : 
this  change  has  been  rendered  necessary 
by  the  state  of  my  health,  which  began 
to  suffer  during  the  last  rainy  season. 
I  have  spent  a  month  on  the  water.  I 
went  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  for  sea 
air,  and  then  proceeded  up  the  river. 
Through  the  great  mercy  of  God  this 
has  been  very  useful.  God  only  knows 
what  is  to  be  the  end  of  all  our  attacks, 
and    what   the    term  of  our    lives.     Te 


70  THE    LIFE    OF 

be  in  his  hands,  who  has  the  keys  of 
death  and  hell,  is  an  unspeakable  privilege. 
I  feel  it  to  be  so,  and  rejoice.  The  cli- 
mate has  begun  evidently  to  affect  me, 
and  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  contract 
my  exertions  of  body  and  mind.  The 
constant  employment  of  mind  in  this 
country  is  unfavourable  to  health  and 
even  dangerous.  Before  I  was  laid  by, 
I  began  to  visit  the  hospital  once  a  week, 
from  which  little  labour  some  good  has 
sprung  up.  But  we  are  all  in  a  low  state, 
our  proceedings  are  slow  and  infantine. 
The  reflections  which  have  passed  in  my 
mind  during  my  excursion  on  the  water 
have  been  rather  of  a  discouraging  nature. 
Yet  though  discouraging — the  discovery 
of  the  truth,  painful  as  it  is  at  the  time, 
may  be  an  unspeakable  blessing.  Who 
knows  but  that  the  discovery  of  my  own 
barrenness  and  manifold  neglects,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  may  lead  to  more -enlarged 
usefulness  in  his  church.  I  have  lately 
liad  much   to   think  of,  much  to  mourn 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  "71 

over,  much  to  pray  for,  and  much,  very 
much,  to  be  thankful  for.  And  now,  with 
renewed  strength  of  body,  I  would  fain 
take  up  my  charge  again  in  a  new  spirit. 

"We  are  become  weaned  from  all 
Europe  expectations.  The  losses  by  capn 
ture  and  shipwreck  of  late  have  made  the 
heart  sick.  You  cannot  conceive  the  ge- 
neral mourning  that  has  been  produced 
amongst  us.  It  has  been  dangerous  to 
mention  the  missing  ships  in  company, 
lest  the  heart  of  some  bereaved  parent  or 
husband  should  be  made  sad. 

"  After  being  laid  low  from  official  en- 
gagements for  six  weeks,  it  was  not  with- 
out the  greatest  emotion  I  resumed  my 
labours.  It  has  pleased  God  to  teach  me 
something  by  shipwreck,  but  he  has  taught 
me  more  by  bodily  affliction.  The  dan- 
ger and  alarm  then  were  temporary,  but 
illness  gives  many  opportunities  of  serious 
reflection.  I  have  had  long  seasons  of 
pain  and  depression,  which  have,  I  trust, 
through  the  mercy  of  God,  been  sancti- 


72  THE    LIFE    OF 

fied  to  my  soul.  I  have  seen  much  ol 
the  unbelief,  pride,  impatience,  and  dis* 
honesty  of  my  heart.  Here  I  am  begin- 
ning my  work  as  it  were  again,  and  I  pray 
God  to  enable  me  by  his  good  Spirit  to 
press  forward  toward  the  mark  of  the 
prize  of  my  high  calliifg. 

"  We  have  never  yet  seen  Mr.  Martyn, 
but  hope  to  be  gratified  in  the  course  of  a 
few  months.  He  has  at  length  determined 
to  try  the  sea  air.  He  has  been  brought 
very  low.'' 

Soon  after  this,  the  religious  people  at 
Calcutta  had  the  happiness  of  seeing 
Henry  Martyn,  who  stopped  there  a  short 
time  in  travelling  from  Cawnpore  to 
Arabia.  The  interview  of  the  mission- 
aries was  full  of  joy,  though  mingled  with 
apprehension  for  Martyn's  health.  Mr. 
Thomason  wrote  to  Mr.  Simeon. 

"  He  is  on  his  way  to  Arabia  in  pursuit 
of  health  and  knowledge.  You  know  his 
genius,  and  what  gigantic  strides  he  takes 
in  every  thing.     He  has  some  great  plan 


THOMAS    T.  TIIOMASON-.  75^ 

in  his  mind,  of  which  I  am  no  competent 
judge.  But  as  far  as  I  do  understand,, 
the  object  is  far  too  grand  for  our  short 
life,  and  much  beyond  his  feeble  and  ex- 
hausted frame.  Feeble  indeed  it  is  !  how 
fallen  and  changed  ! — his  complaint  lies  in 
the  lungs,  and  appears  to  be  incipient  con- 
sumption. But  let  us  hope  the  sea  air 
will  revive  him,  and  that  change  of  place 
and  pursuit  may  do  him  essential  service, 
and  continue  his  life  many  years.  In  all 
other  respects  he  is  exactly  the  same  as 
he  was  :  he  shines  in  all  the  dignity  of 
love,  and  seems  to  carry  about  him  such 
a  heavenly  majesty  as  impresses  the  mind 
beyond  all  description.  But  if  he  talks 
much,  though  in  a  low  voice,  he  sinks,  and 
you  are  reminded  of  his  being  dust  and 
Ashes. — It  would  have  filled  your  eyes, 
with  tears  to  have  seen  dear [proba- 
bly ^Nlrs.  Thomason]  when  she  saw  him  ; 
you  know  her  smile  and  hearty  counte- 
nance, and  eyes  darting  p;ood-nature,  but 
vou  never  saw  them  so  called  forth.     We 

a 


74  THE    LIFE    OF 

Avere  all  filled  with  joy  unspeakable,  and 
blessed  God  for  the  rich  opportunity  of 
loving  intercourse." 

Whilst  in  Calcutta,  Martyn  preached 
his  sermon  for  the  Bible  society,  which 
Avas  followed  by  so  much  blessing,  and 
his  other  labours  during  his  short  stay 
were  highly  useful.* 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

The  institution  of  the  Calcutta  Bible 
jociety  gave  great  joy  to  the  friends  of 
religion.  It  caused  inquiry  among  the 
people,  and  the  opposition  that  was  made 
to  it  only  caused  the  subject  to  be  more 
talked  of,  and  the  Bible  to  be  examined. 
^Ir.  Thomason  said,  "It  is  impossible  to 
.describe  the  joy  I  feel  in  contemplating 
the  probable  harvest  of  knowledge,  piety, 
.and  happiness  which  will  arise  from  this 

*  The  life  of  Henry  Martyn  has  been  published  by 
dhe  American  S.  S.  Union,  in  a  volume  of  246  pages. 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  75 

institution  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe. 
It  gives  greater  stability  to  our  proceed- 
ings  than  the  most  splendid  conquests." 

Shortly  after  this,  Abdool  Messeeh,  a 
native  of  Hindoostan  and  a  Mohammedan, 
was  baptized  at  Calcutta.  His  first  reli- 
gious impressions  had  been  received  whilst 
hearing  Mr.  Marty n,  and  he  became  a 
'iseful  missionary  to  his  countrymen.* 
Mr.  Martyn^s  translation  of  the  New 
Testament  into  Hindoostanee  was  finished 
and  about  to  be  published.  In  addition 
to  these  causes  of  encouragement,  INIr. 
Thomason's  own  ministry  was  greatly 
blessed.  "  It  would  fill  your  heart  with 
joy,"  he  tells  iNIr.  Simeon,  "to  see  us 
here.  Whatever  reason  we  have  had  for- 
merly to  see  the  hand  of  God  in  our 
coming  to  India,  has  been  greatly  increased 
of  late.  New  scenes  of  usefulness  open  ; 
my  hands  are  now  quite  full,  and  through 

*  An  account  of  Abdool  IMesseeh,  and  of  his  minis- 
try, with  a  portrait,  is  given  in  an  appendix  to  the  life 
of  Martyn,  published  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 


76  THE    LIFE    OF 

mercy,  I  see  the  gradual  operation  of  a 
gospel  ministry.  Some  persons  of  late 
have  been  brought  to  a  serious  concern 
for  their  souls.  Those  who  were  once 
scoffers  hear  and  weep,  and  endeavour  to 
promote  the  cause  they  formerly  despised ; 
and  our  own  people,  which  is  a  great 
mercy,  and  received  as  an  answer  to 
prayer,  are  more  united  amongst  each 
other." 

His  views  of  his  own  insufficiency 
for  the  great  work  that  was  before  him, 
though  perhaps  just,  show  that  he  was 
not  forgetful  of  his  own  heart,  in  try- 
ing to  do  good  to  others.  ''  I  feel  the 
necessity  of  a  close  and  diligent  reading 
of  the  Scriptures.  It  is  in:ipossible  to 
occupy  the  teacher's  chair  with  advantage 
to  our  hearers,  except  we  are  very  much 
engaged  in  experimental  reading  of  the 
Scriptures  ourselves.  0  what  treasures 
are  to  be  found  in  the  word  of  God  ! 
Blessed  be  God  for  a  little  sense  of  them  ! 
-would    that   I    could    give   my   whole 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  77 

heart  and  soul  to  them.  But  I  am  as  yet 
only  on  the  surface  of  things  ;  this  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven.  God  knoweth  I  de- 
plore my  Ignorance,  and  count  myself  to 
be  a  mere  novice,  and  feel  unspeakably 
unworthy  to  preach  Christ  to  lost  sinners. 
I  want  to  have  my  heart  warmed  with  his 
love.  But  oh,  my  exceeding  vileness  and 
hardness  of  heart!"  At  the  same  time 
the  difficulties  and  discouragements  that 
he  had  to  meet  ought  to  be  remem.bered. 
'"'  The  state  of  society  here,  and  the  state 
of  the  climate,  oppose  difficulties  which 
you  can  hardly  appreciate  if  described. 
The  climate  has  influence  upon  one's 
natural  sloth  in  a  thousand  ways  ;  and 
society  is  so  constituted,  that  we  are  op- 
posed at  every  step  by  the  pride  of  rank, 
and  office,  and  colour,  to  a  degree  surpass- 
ing all  conception.  Had  I  chosen  to  live 
here  in  the  state  and  dignity  of  chaplain, 
my  path  would  have  been  easy,  but  in  the 
attempt  at  a  parochial  line  of  labour  [that 
is,  not  only  preaching,  but  visiting  his 
o  2 


78'  THE    LIFE    OF 

congregation,  &c.],  the  difficulties  are  pro- 
digious. I  find  my  heart  sick  sometimes, 
aiid  learn  the  drift  of  that  verse  in  Eccle- 
siastes,  '  that  which  is  crooked  cannot  be 
made  straight.'  In  England,  different 
classes  mingle  easily  :  here,  even  after 
religion  has  its  decided  hold  on  a  man, 
he  remembers  his  little  insulated  sphere, 
and  finds  it  hard  to  be  cordial  with  those 
who  are  above  him,  or  with  those  who  are 
beneath  him  :  not  with  those  above  him, 
the,pride  of  the  great  produces  a  reaction 
in  the  lower  order ;  not  with  those  below 
him,  for  obvious  reasons.  To  relieve  my- 
self from  such  painful  inconsistencies,  I 
find  the  best  practical  remedy  is  to  be 
much  in  company  with  the  most  wretched, 
the  diseased,  the  poor,  the  sick,  and  dying. 
These  are  thankful  to  hear  the  words  of 
life.  I  have  much  comfort  at  times  with 
the  poor  invalid  soldiers  in  the  hospital. 
About  fifty  attend,  and  I  visit  them  twice, 
on  Tuesday  and  Friday  evenings.  With  re- 
spect to  the  sick — the  miserable  sick  peo 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  79 

pie  in  this  truly  miserable  place— I  mourn 
over  m3'self  and  them  ;  I  go  rather  with 
tlie  hope  of  good  to  myself  than  to  them. 
So  rich  is  the  mercy  of  God,  and  so  pre- 
cious the  service  of  our  master,  some  of 
the  happiest  moments  I  enjoy  are  in  going 
to,  or  returning  from,  these  unhappy  crea- 
tures." 

Several  disastrous  events  occurred  in 
the  year  1812.  The  printing  office  of  the 
baptist  mission  at  Serampore,  fifteen 
miles  from  Calcutta,  was  burned  on  the 
11th  of  March.  There  were  in  the  house 
at  the  time  of  the  fire  two  thousand  reams 
of  paper,  and  types  in  fifteen  languages, 
all  of  which  were  destroyed.  Nine  edi- 
tions of  the  New  Testament,  and  five  of 
the  Old,  in  various  Eastern  languages, 
were  in  the  progress  of  printing  at  the 
time,  besides  various  other  works  of  the 
missionaries.  The  loss  was  immense. 
Mr.  Thomason  went  to  Serampore  a? 
soon  as  he  heard  of  the  fire.  ^'  I  could 
scarcely  believe  the  report ;  it  was  like  a 


I 


80  THE    LIFE    OF 

blow  on  the  head  which  stupifies.  I  flew 
to  Serampore  to  witness  the  desolation. 
The  scene  was  indeed  affecting.  The 
immense  printing  office,  two  hundred  feet 
long  and  fifty  broad,  reduced  to  a  mere 
shell.  The  yard  covered  witli  burnt 
quires  of  paper,  the  loss  in  which  article 
was  immense.  Carey  walked  with  me 
over  the  smoking  ruins.  The  tears  stood 
in  his  eves.  ^  In  one  short  eveninsr,'  said 
he,  *  the  labours  of  years  are  consumed 
How  unsearchable  are  the  ways  of  God ' 
I  had  lately  brought  some  things  to  the 
atmost  perfection  of  which  they  seemed 
^apable,  and  co^Jiemplated  the  missionarv 
establishment  ^-ith,  perhaps,  too  much 
self-gratuk. /.  ^  The  Lord  has  laid  me 
low,  tnat  ■-  ^f.':  look  more  simply  to  him.' 
Who  could  uj  \  d  in  such  a  place,"  he  asks, 
''at  such  a  tir .:,  with  such  a  man,  without 
feelings  of  s?i^;p  regret,  and  solemn  exer- 
cise of  mind.  I  saw  the  ground  strewed 
with  half  consumed  paper,  on  which,  in 
the   course    of  a  very   few  months,  the 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASOX.  81 

words  of  life  would  have  been  printed. 
The  metal  under  our  feet  amidst  the  ruins 
was  melted  into  misshapen  lumps — the 
sad  remains  of  beautiful  types  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  All  was 
smiling  and  promising  a  few  hours  before 
— ^now  all  is  vanished  into  smoke  and 
converted  into  rubbish  ! — adding  with 
self-application, — '  Return  now  to  thy 
books,  regard  God  in  all  thou  doest 
Learn  Arabic  with  humility.  Let  God 
be  exalted  in  all  thy  plans,  and  purposes, 
and  labours  ;  he  can  do  without  thee.' '' 

Dr.  Marshman,  in  writing  an  account  of 
the  calamity  to  England,  says,  "Poor  Mr. 
Thomason  wept  like  a  child  on  hearing 
of  it.  He  begs  us  to  make  a  minute 
statement  of  our  loss,  and  says  he  will 
use  all  his  interest  in  our  behalf.'' 

Another  affliction  was  the  sickness 
and  death  of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  who  had  laboured  in  Calcutta 
without  compensation,  and  deserved  the 
tribute    which    is    inscribed   on   a   mar- 


82  THE    LIFE    OF 

ble  in  the  church  :  "  To  the  poor  the 
gospel  was  preached  in  this  church  by 
the  Rev.  David  Brown,  during  a  period 
of  twenty-five  years."  This  was  followed 
by  the  death  of  Henry  jMartyn,  in  Persia, 
in  October,  1S12.  "  Few,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  have  reason  to  mourn  individually  as  I 
have  :  with  him  I  hoped  to  spend  my 
days  in  mutual  deliberation  and  united 
labour.  Here  in  a  short  time  he  would 
have  been  fixed,  and  hence  we  neither 
of  us  would  have  wished  to  stir  a  foot. 
He  has  often  said  it  to  me.  1  fondly 
counted  on  his  return  full  fraught  with 
health  and  Arabic.  On  this  his  heart 
was  set,  though  not  for  itself  It  has 
pleased  God  to  remove  him  to  the  rest 
for  which  he  had  been  panting,  and  from 
which  nothing  but  the  love  of  his  work 
here  would  willingly  have  detained  him. 
With  his  presence  in  Calcutta,  the  Persian 
and  Arabic  versions  would  have  pro- 
ceeded with  spirit  ;  he  was  so  eminently 
qualified   with    all    needful    endowments 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASOX.  83 

for  a  good  translator.  The  great  Head 
of  the  church  lives,  that  is  our  consola- 
tion. I  have  learnt  more  than  ever  what 
that  Scripture  means,  '  Cease  ye  from 
man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils.'  " 

"We  are  deeply  wounded,"  are  his 
words  in  another  letter  ;  "  his  walk  was 
so  grand,  his  labours  so  important,  his 
attainments  so  rare  !  0  how  fondly  we 
counted  upon  his  future  labours  !  how 
the  heart  leaped  for  joy  at  the  thought 
of  Martyn's  successful  career  in  Persia, 
and  hoped-for  return  to  Calcutta.  Here 
.  he  hoped  to  return  and  spend  his  days, 
having  often  said  to  us  there  was  no  spot 
in  the  world  so  dear  to  him  as  Calcutta  ; 
we  responded  with  affection  to  his  notes 
of  love,  and  panted  with  eager  desire  to 
see  him.  Often  have  our  petitions  been 
offered  up  at  our  social  meetings  for  his 
preservation  and  success.  Once  espe- 
cially the  conversation  at  table  was 
wholly  engrossed  with  Martyn,  and  the 
prayers  w^hich  followed   were  unusually 


?'4  THE    LIFE    OF 

fervent.     The   very  next  day   we  heari] 
of  the  termination  of  his  career. 

"You  can  judge  of  the  extent  of  my 
disappointment  and  depth  of  my  sorrow. 
Here  I  had  hoped  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  my  days  with  that  honoured  minister, 
participating  his  labours,  administering 
to  his  comforts,  and  roused  by  his  exam- 
ple. But  it  has  pleased  the  great  Head 
of  the  church  to  take  him  to  himself — 
it  hath  pleased  Him,  and  dare  we  repine  ? 
No  event  within  my  recollection  has  filled 
me  with  so  much  sorrow,  and  caused  so 
hard  a  conflict  between  faith  and  unbelief, 
from  which  I  have  learnt  much  of  the 
idolatry  of  the  heart,  and  of  its  rebellious 
opposition  to  the  will  of  God.  We  idol- 
ized this  rare  creature  :  so  the  Lord  lias 
removed  him,  and  taught  us  more  simple 
dependence  upon  himself  The  expe- 
rience has  been  bitter,  the  ultimate  fruit 
I  hope  will  be  sweet.  Our  great  Head 
remains,  and  He  shall  see  of  the  travail 
of  His  soul   and   be   satisfied.     If  He  is 


THOMAS   T.  THOMASON.  83 

satisfied  we  may  well  be  so  ;  who  knows 
how  He  may  bless  us  in  our  bereaved 
state  ? 

"  Where  are  all  those  zealous  young 
men  who  assembled  in  your  town-hall, 
and  helped  forward  your  Biblical  associa- 
tions ?  0  that  they  would  take  the  map 
of  India  in  their  hands.  0  that  the  Lord 
would  dispose  their  hearts  to  look  upon 
this  immense  country  with  Christian  ten- 
derness and  compassion. — The  labourers 
must  be  disposed  to  cheerfulness — a  melan- 
choly turn  of  mind  is  highly  unfavourable 
in  India.  The  climate  itself  depresses 
more  than  you  can  conceive.  In  all  your 
estimates  of  characters  let  cheerfulness 
be  considered  an  essential  requisite." 

From  the  time  of  Mr.  Brown's  death 
until  the  end  of  IS  13,  Mr.  Thomason's 
labours  were  unusually  great.  Until  that 
time  he  had  no  assistant  in  the  church, 
and  considering  his  duties  to  that  congre- 
gation as  first  in  importance,  he  did  not 
neglect  them  for  any  thing  else.  Besides 
H 


86  THE    LIFE    OF 

these  duties,  he  was  engaged  in  revising 
the  Arabic  version  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
in  conducting  through  the  press  INIr.  Mar- 
tyn's  Hindoostanee  New  Testament.  He 
executed,  also,  at  the  desire  of  the  govern- 
ment, the  office  of  examiner  in  Arabic, 
in  the  college  at  Fort  William  ;  and  as  if 
this  were  not  enough,  he  was  preparing 
further  work  for  himself  by  inviting  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  to  place  two 
missionaries  in  his  house,  whom  he  under- 
took to  instruct  gratuitously  in  oriental 
literature.  But  the  project  that,  of  all 
others,  lay  nearest  his  heart,  was  the 
establishment  of  native  schools  ;  and,  as  a 
preparatory  step,  a  school  for  schoolmas- 
ters. 

Of  the  plan  of  native  schoolmasters, 
^Ir.  Thomason  said,  "  This  school  would 
be  a  noble  establishment.  I  despair  of 
seeing  any  great  good  done  in  a  place 
where  the  objects  of  ignorance  and  vice 
are  innumerable,  until  some  such  institu 
tion  has  been  formed.     But  I  fear  it  would 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  87 

not  suit  the  adventurous  and  grand  and 
dasliing  spirit  of  the  age.  The  good 
people  of  England  would  suppose  that  a 
free  school  containing  1000  children,  must 
be  tenfold  more  productive  than  one  con- 
taining 24  children,  not  considering  the 
great  importance  of  having  one  school- 
master, they  would  suppose  the  money 
almost  wasted.  Schoolmasters  must  be 
made  here,  not  in  England.  Those  in 
England  expect  more  pay,  and  can  bear 
less  fatigue,  and  must  be  formed  here  after 
their  arrival.  Much  is  to  be  learned  be- 
fore they  can  labour  here  efficiently.  The 
thing  to  be  most  earnestly  prayed  for  is, 
that  government  would  support  this  esta- 
blishment. It  would  be  a  noble  item  of 
expenditure.  The  benefit  would  be  dis- 
tant, at  present  scarcely  perceptible,  but 
future  generations  would  arise  and  call  us 
blessed.  This  plan  has  been  long  in  my 
mind.  It  is  far  from  being  new,  but  in 
this  place  the  application  of  it  to  prac- 
tice is  very  difficult,  arising  partly  from 


88  THE    LIFE    OF 

localities  which  it  is  not  easy  to  explain 
to  an  European,  and  partly  from  the  indo- 
lent spirit  of  the  place,  and  partly  from 
the  great  paucity  of  efficient  labourers 
The  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice  ; 
sure  we  are,  that  the  good  that  is  done  upon 
earth,  he  doeth  it,  and  when  he  acts,  none 
can  stay  his  hand." 

In  the  year  1812,  Messrs.  Judson,  New- 
ell, Nott,  Hall,  and  Rice  sailed  from  the 
United  States  as  missionaries  to  India. 
A  few  days  after  their  arrival  in  Calcutta, 
an  order  of  the  British  government  was 
read  to  them,  directing  them  to  leave  the 
country.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newell  accord- 
ingly sailed  for  the  isle  of  France,  in  the 
Indian  ocean,  where  JNIrs.  Newell  died 
soon  after  her  arrival.  INIr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  and  iNIr.  Rice  soon  joined  Mr 
Newell.* 

•  The  American  S,  S.  Union  have  published  the 
life  of  Mrs.  Judson,  prepared  for  that  purpose  by  Kev 
Mr.  Knowles,  in  a  volume  of  266  pages ;  and  the  life 
of  Mrs.  Newell,  in  a  volume  of  the  same  size. 


THOMAS   T.  TH0MA90N.  89 

These  proceedings  caused  Mr.  Thoma- 
son  great  pain,  and  it  was  a  severe  trial 
to  him  and  the  friends  of  religion  every- 
where to  see  these  men,  who  had  devoted 
their  lives  to  the  welfare  of  a  nation  of 
idolaters,  driven  by  a  Christian  govern- 
ment from  the  land.  Whilst  the  Ameri- 
can missionaries  were  still  at  Bombay,  the 
earl  of  Moira,  the  new  governor-general 
of  India,  arrived  in  Calcutta.  Mr.  Tho- 
mason  and  his  friends  were  consulting  at 
the  moment  of  his  arrival  what  could  be 
done  to  change  the  sentence  of  the  mis- 
sionaries. ''  Our  new  governor-general," 
he  said,  "  is  arrived.  Hope  is  revived. 
His  language  will  not,  I  hope,  be  altered 
by  the  climate  of  India.  He  comes  with 
noble  intentions  and  great  promises.  What 
he  w^ll  do  cannot  be  conjectured  ;  but 
he  is  about  to  be  put  to  a  hard  trial. 
The  late  governor  having  peremptorily 
ordered  all  the  missionaries  away  who 
came  from  America,  they  went  to  Bombay. 
There  a  government  order  followed  them, 
h2 


90 


THE    LIFE    OF 


commanding  sir  Evan  Nepean  to  send 
them  off  by  the  first  opportunity.  Sir 
Evan  is  their  friend,  but  cannot  resist 
authority.  •Nlr.  Udney,  Dr.  Carey,  and 
myself  are  about  to  prepare  a  memorial 
to  the  new  government  on  the  subject, 
entreating  permission  for  the  missionaries 
to  reside  quietly  in  the  country.  We 
should  not  have  chosen  so  early  and  strong 
a  test  of  lord  Moira's  principles,  if  we 
had  been  left  to  our  own  judgment.  But 
the  ship  in  which  the  dear  missionaries 
are  ordered  away  is  on  the  point  of  sail- 
ing. If  speedy  exertion  be  not  made, 
they  will  be  gone.  May  it  please  God 
to  touch  the  heart  of  the  governor-general, 
and  incline  him  to  comply  with  our  re- 
quest !  They  are  good  men,  full  of  zeal, 
ripe  for  usefulness — the  harvest  great 
The  expense  of  their  journeying  already 
is  enormous — what  a  reproach  that  a 
Christian  government  should  turn  them 
back,  and  sport  with  the  best  interests 
of  its  subjects  !'' 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  91 

But  nothing  could  be  obtained  favoura- 
ble to  the  missionaries,  and  they  departed, 
leaving  with  the  governor  of  Bombay  a 
vindication  of  their  character  and  inten- 
sions. 

In  4814  the  governor-general  requested 
Mr.  Thomason  to  propose  a  plan  for  the 
education  of  the  natives,  a  subject  which 
was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
country  and  to  the  progress  of  religion, 
for,  as  he  observed,  "  If  we  would  reform 
effectually,  we  must  instruct,  and  if  we 
would  instruct  effectually,  we  must  have 
institutions  in  which  instruction  holds  the 
principal  place."  He  also  appointed  him 
to  perform  service  statedly  at  Barrackpoor, 
his  country  residence,  and  as  his  chaplain 
to  accompany  him  on  the  journey  he  was 
about  to  take  through  the  provinces  of  his 
";overnment. 

"  Public  and  private  duties,"  he  writes 
"  increase  upon  me.  Where  ^here  is  too 
much  burden,  part  must  be  neglected,  and 
very  much  imperfectly  sustained.     I  see 


92  THE    LIFE    OF 

SO  many  things  undone,  and  so  many 
things  ill-done,  I  am  continually  sighing 
for  help.  Relief  I  trust  is  near.  This 
important  field  of  labour  will  not,  I  hope, 
be  left  unprovided  with  labourers.  It 
seems  strange  that  young  men  have  not 
been  more  ready  to  follow  up  the  work 
of  God  in  India.  Perhaps  the  danger  of 
the  sea  and  climate  are  overrated.  They 
are  not  so  formidable  as  timid  people  con- 
sider them.  But  even  if  they  were,  when 
we  see  them  continually  encountered  in 
the  pursuit  of  honour  and  wealth,  it  is 
somewhat  reproachful  that  pious  students 
of  the  ministry  should  be  deterred.  Last 
Thursday  I  finished  my  lectures  on  St 
John  ; — I  have  been  four  years  and  a  half 
in  going  through  that  edifying  gospel  ; 
and  I  may  add^  with  thankfulness  to  the 
great  Head  of  the  church,  not  without 
many  cheering  tokens  of  his  presence. 
Our  congregation  on  Thursday  evening 
evidently  improves.  On  Sunday  evenings 
too  we  are  well  filled,  in  the  mornings  wo 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  93 

have  a  regular  congregation.  Whilst  the 
power  of  religion  is  progressive  among 
Europeans,  it  is  a  matter  of  great  joy  to 
see  that  the  work  prospers  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  The  Scriptures  are 
in  continual  motion,  in  different  languages 
and  with  increasing  success.  To  God  be 
the  glory.  It  is  surprising  how  all  do- 
mestic arrangements  on  your  side  of  the 
water  and  ours  dwindle  into  insignificance. 
It  seems  a  matter  of  unspeakable  indif- 
ference whether  our  children  are  in  town 
or  country,  in  India  or  in  England,  or 
what  becomes  of  them  and  ourselves,  pro- 
vided we  are  all  at  our  posts,  serving  the 
Lord  in  our  respective  spheres,  living  to 
his  glory,  and  labouring  for  his  cause. 
Then  all  prospers.  We  sometimes  feel 
however  as  if  we  should  like  to  have  all 
things  our  own  way — many  Martyns — 
a  host  of  Corries — daily  conversions.'^ 


94  THE    LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER   IX. 

In  the  summer  of  1S14,  ]Mr.  Thoma- 
son  left  Calcutta  in  company  with  earl 
Moira,  the  governor-general,  on  his  tour. 
As  this  was  expected  to  occupy  nearly 
a  year,  the  length  of  the  journey  beina 
upwards  of  two  thousand  miles,  lie  fel 
great  anxiety  about  undertaking  it.  But 
he  left  his  church  in  the  care  of  a  faithful 
minister,  and  thought  that  he  could  not 
have  a  more  favourable  opportunity  of 
attaining  information  to  assist  him  in  pre- 
paring his  plan  for  the  education  of  the 
people ;  he  also  thought  he  could  by  this 
means  be  more  able  to  engage  the  govern- 
or's attention  to  the  moral  condition  of 
the  ignorant  and  depraved  inhabitants, 
than  he  would  be  at  home.  '•  Whilst 
Mr.  Robertson  takes  care  of  my  cluirch, 
I  am  proceeding  on  a  new  work,  under 
very  new  circumstances.  Tlie  governor's 
party  is  very  large  ;  near  500  boats  at- 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.    '  95 

tended  him.  He  is  splendid  and  stately, 
and  his  march  through  the  country  will 
be  more  magnificent  than  that  of  any  pre- 
ceding governor.  The  opportunity  of 
seeing  the  country,  and  conversing  with 
every  person  of  intelligence  and  piety 
may  be  highly  important.  I  mean  to  keep 
the  grand  object  in  view,  the  formation 
and  execution  of  school  plans.  Sabat, 
the  translator,  accompanies  me ;  our  Ara- 
bic version  therefore  continues,  and  the 
proof  sheets  follow  us  up  the  country. 
My  public  ministerial  work  will  be  one 
service  on  Sundays,  in  the  family  boat 
of  the  governor-general,  to  which  the 
party  will  have  access.  Corrie  [the  prin- 
cipal European  clergymen]  has  been  again 
attacked  with  his  old  complaint.  He 
Avrote  to  me  a  fortnight  ago,  begging  my 
advice  as  to  his  going  home.  I  could 
not  hesitate  to  recommend  the  measure  ; 
strongly  as  we  shall  feel  and  mourn,  yet 
forasmuch  as  the  work  of  Christ  is  the 
most  blessed  of  all  works,  it  is  fit  that  he 


96  THE    LIFE    OF 

should  flee,  that  his  precious  life  may  be 
prolonged  for  future  good.  I  expect  we 
shall  meet  on  the  river  ;  when  we  come 
to  his  widowed  church  at  Agra,  we  shall 
find  sorrow,  where  we  looked  for  joy. 
Corrie  goes,  who  is  the  leader,  the  pattern, 
the  father.  0,  when  shall  we  see  more 
labourers  arrive  in  our  vineyard  !  Yet 
we  rejoice  in  the  Lord's  presence,  and 
believincr  that  he  acts  in  a  manner  to  us 
invisible  and  inscrutable,  we  can  look  to 
him  through  the  gloom,  and  go  forward 
with  hope.  I  felt  much  at  parting  with 
the  dear  people  ;  the  affection  of  many 
was  called  forth.  On  the  last  two  Thurs 
day  evenings,  I  have  been  taking  leave, 
conceiving  that  the  important  concern  for 
us  all  is  to  see  that  we  have  the  grace  of 
God  in  truth,  and  walk  consistently  with 
such  a  profession,  I  spoke  on  the  parable 
of  the  virgins  for  the  former  subject,  on 
that  of  the  talents  for  the  latter,  conclud- 
ing on  Sunday  with  a  sermon  on  follow- 
ing peace  and  holiness.     On  these  occa- 


THO:\IAS    T.  TMOIVIASOX.  9? 

sions  I  have  delivered  my  whole  soul, 
and  now  looking  back  on  my  ministry, 
I  mourn  over  its  unprofitableness.  0  that 
the  blessing  of  God  may  come  down  on 
Mr.  Robertson,  and  prosper  his  ministry  ! 
Separate  in  body,  I  am  still  with  him  and 
his  flock  in  spirit  ;  if  spared  to  return  to 
my  charge,  may  I  come  to  it  in  more  life, 
and  love,  and  earnestness." 

Shortly  before  setting  out  he  sent  his 
eldest  son  to  England.  "  The  bracing  air 
of  Europe,  we  hope,  will  do  him  good  ; 
how  greatly  shall  I  rejoice,  if  he  should 
prove  willing  and  qualified  to  follow  his 
father  to  India,  and  labour  here  in  the 
gospel.  But  this  is  with  the  Lord.  I 
dare  not  plan  ;  but  blessed  be  God,  I  can 
pray.  I  cannot  convey  to  you  what  his 
poor  mother  felt ;  my  own  pangs  seem  to 
have  been  forgotten  in  hers.  0  it  was  a 
bitter  parting  !  However,  it  is  now  over, 
and  we  both  acquiesce  in  the  step  as  wise 
and  proper.  It  is  one  of  the  greatest 
I 


98  THE    LIFE    OF 

parental  duties  to  send  him  home — can  a 
parent  then    hesitate  ?'^ 

The  first  eight  hundred  miles  of  the  tour 
was  by  water,  most  of  the  rest  was  over- 
land. Mr.  Thomason's  letters  will  furnish 
the  best  history  of  his  cmploynicnts  and 
feelings  durins:  the  time. 

"  At  i>Ionghir  I  was  asked  to  preach 
in  the  evenino;  for  the  benefit  of  the  sta- 
tion.  A  few  invalids  attended,  and  a 
band  of  eight  or  ten  European  residents. 
We  were  detained  a  week,  the  weather 
wet  and  gloomy,  and  all  beginning  to  feel 
the  effects  of  a  very  unwholesome  spot 
We  were  anchored  in  a  low  marshy  place, 
at  a  distance  from  the  hills.  I  can  ill 
describe  the  vexation,  and  discontent,  and 
complainings  of  almost  all  in  the  fleet. 
It  was  indeed  a  sufficiently  dull  week, 
where  there  were  no  resources.  What  a 
mercy  to  be  relieved  from  the  tedium  and 
disgust  to  which  we  find  so  many  a  prey. 
Here  we  are  in  one  little  cabin,  cheerful 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  99 

and  happy,  and  constantly  employed. 
When  we  are  engaged  in  our  morning 
and  evening  readings,  the  heart  overflows 
with  thankfulness  for  the  distinguished 
blessings  God  confers  upon  us,  in  having 
given  us  a  love  for  his  word,  and  a  desire 
after  a  remembrance  of  his  name.  W 
sung    together   this    morning   the    hymn 

,  and  could  rejoice  in  the  thought 

that  the  fountain  is  opened  to  us  guilty 
polluted  sinners.  The  defilement  of  sin 
is  not  more  felt,  because  the  glory  of  God 
is  not  more  seen.  One  glimpse  of  his 
holy  character  will  make  us  lie  low  in  the 
dust.  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hear- 
ing of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth 
thee  ;  but  fallen  man  is  without  God  in 
the  world  ;  how  great  is  the  blessing  to 
have  his  authority  in  some  measure  re- 
stored, and  his  throne  set  up  in  the  heart. 
I  hear  Mr.  Robertson  is  not  quite  well, 
pray  tell  me  the  truth  ;  he  must  not  be 
overworked.  I  am  within  call — when- 
ever you  say  ^  it  is  time  to  come  back, 


100  THE    LIFE    OF 

the  church  wants  you/  I  shall  apply  for 
dismissal. 

"  In  ascending  the  Ganges,  and  visiting 
the  towns  and  villages  on  its  banks,  we 
see  the  enormous  population  of  degraded 
beings  with  our  eyes.  The  first  place 
of  in;portance  was  Moorshedabad,  the 
once  famous  metropolis  of  Bengal,  an 
immense  city,  swarming  with  inhabitants, 
but  exhibiting  the  sad  marks  of  decayed 
greatness.  Oh,  it  was  an  affecting  sight 
to  look  around  at  the  countless  throngs. 
and  observe  moral,  political,  and  religious 
degradation,  without  one  cheering  symp- 
tom of  improvement.  We  have  destroyed 
the  political  importance  of  the  natives, 
stripped  them  of  their  power,  and  laid 
them  prostrate,  without  giving  them  any 
thing  in  return.  They  possess  neither 
learning,  nor  emulation,  nor  power. 
Every  spring  of  action  seems  deadened  ; 
they  wallow  in  the  filth  of  a  senseless 
and  impure  religion,  without  any  prospect 
of   deliverance.     You    can    conceive    no- 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  101 

thing  more  wretched  than  Hindoo  towns 
and  villages.  Nothing  like  architecture, 
except  in  their  temples  ;  the  streets  nar- 
row and  dirty,  the  houses  inexpressibly 
mean,  filled  with  inhabitants  whose  ap- 
pearance is  disgusting  in  the  extreme. 
At  Benares,  I  ventured  to  visit  the  shrine 
held  so  sacred.  It  was  an  oppressive  sight 
I  hastened  from  the  place,  and  thanked 
God  for  the  gospel.  If  I  do  not  return 
to  my  charge  with  more  of  a  missionary 
spirit,  it  will  be  my  own  fault.  To  behold 
such  a  mass  of  putrefied  matter,  and  not 
be  concerned  about  providing  the  means 
of  life  and  health,  is  criminal  in  the  ex- 
treme. Blessed  be  God  for  some  little 
zeal.  Had  I  obtained  nothing  more  than 
an  increased  sense  of  the  importance  of 
ministerial  labour,  I  should  be  richly  re- 
paid." 

But  notwithstanding  this  proof  of  the 
necessity  of  instruction,  Mr.   Thomason 
was  distressed  to  find  that  the  governor 
I  2 


102  THE    LIFE    OF 

appeared  to  take  little  interest  in  providing 
the  means. 

At  Cawnpore,  which  Henry  ^Nlartyn 
had  left  to  go  to  Arabia,  the  governor  met 
one  of  the  natives,  of  great  wealth  and 
rank,  who  was  encamped  on  the  bank 
of  the  Ganges.  A  bridge  of  boats  was 
made  across  the  river,  and  trains  of  ele- 
phants and  rich  presents  were  constantly 
passing  from  one  party  to  the  other,  Bui 
another  object  filled  more  of  the  mission- 
ary's thoughts  than  all  the  splendour  of 
that  scene.  ^*  In  these  sandy  plains  I  have 
been  tracing  again  and  again  the  days  of 
Martyn.  Close  by  me  is  the  house  that 
dear  minister  occupied,  leading  to  which 
is  the  gloomy  line  of  aloes  spoken  of  by 
]\Irs.  Sherwood. — Ofor  INIartyn's  hum,ility 
and  love  (he  afterwards  wrote) :  those  who 
knew  him  can  bear  testimony  to  the  truth 
of  his  Christian  walk.  His  standard  of 
every  duty  was  the  highest,  and  his  feel- 
ings of  joy,  sorrow,  love,  most  intense  ; 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASOX.  103 

whilst  bis  conversalioii  was  always  in 
heaven,  the  savour  of  liis  holy  disposition 
was  as  ointment  poured  forth.  Many 
parts  of  his  experience  can  only  be  appre- 
ciated by  those  who  enter  deeply  into  the 
divine  life.  In  proportion  as  we  discern 
wiiat  is  spiritual  in  its  excellence  and 
glory,  we  shall  understand  his  lowly  self- 
abasing  reflections  on  what  he  observed 
within.  He  was  transported  by  a  glory, 
of  which  common  Christians  only  obtain 
a  glimpse.  And  0  how  is  all  explained, 
when  we  behold  him  entering  his  closet, 
and  holding  communion  with  God  with 
such  delight,  such  unw^earied  constant  en- 
joyment !  Wo  unto  us  if  we  do  not  pray 
more,  live  more  above  the  world,  and  deny 
ourselves  more,  and  love  Christ  more. 
Are  we  not  hoping  to  see  him  in  a  happier 
state  ?  the  Lord  quicken  us,  and  enable 
us  to  go  forward :  '  laying  aside  every 
weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily 
beset  us,  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race 
that  is  set  before  us.'  '' 


104 


THE    LIFE    OF 


Leaving  Cawnpore,  IMr.  Thomason  oe- 
gan  what  to  him  was  a  novel  and  strange 
mode  of  life  ;  marching  and  living  in 
tents.  The  party  proceeded  by  easy 
stages  twelve  miles  a  day,  rising  by  gun 
fire,  when  it  was  quite  dark  in  the  morn 
ing,  they  arrived  at  their  ground  a  little 
after  sunrise.  '*  Conceive,"  as  he  says, 
describing  his  journey, — "  an  immense 
plain,  on  which  are  scattered  thousands 
of  villages,  a  few  principal  towns  without 
variety,  and  a  vast  multitude  of  inhabit- 
ants :  when  you  have  seen  one  village 
or  town,  you  have  seen  all ;  they  are  with- 
out any  of  those  marks  of  opulence,  civili- 
zation, or  elegance  which  delight  the  Eng- 
lish traveller.  Those  persons  who  are 
distinguished  for  their  wealth  are  few, 
and  they  shun  the  presence  of  Europeans  : 
their  manners  and  their  dress  are  similar 
to  those  of  their  inferiors:  the  efiect  of 
English  superiority  is  of  the  most  gloomy 
nature. '^ 

]Mr.  Thomason  was  grieved  to  find  that 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  105 

the  governor  intended  to  continue  his 
land-journey  without  stopping  on  the 
Lord's-day.  As  his  chaplain,  he  felt  it 
to  be  his  duty  to  remind  the  governor  of 
his  obligation  to  keep  that  day  holy. 
When  he  found  that  this  had  no  effect, 
and  that  on  Saturday  the  usual  prepara- 
tions were  making  to  proceed  on  the  next 
day,  he  remonstrated  against  it.  The 
consequence  was  that  he  was  ordered  to 
leave  the  camp  ;  but  he  was  given  to  under- 
stand that  if  he  would  make  an  apology, 
the  sentence  would  not  be  executed.  Mr. 
Thomason  could  not  apologize  for  doing 
what  he  believed  to  be  his  duty,  and  wrote 
to  the  governor,  expressing  his  surprise 
at  this  order,  but  his  readiness  at  the  same 
time  to  comply  with  it;  adding  that  he 
felt  as  strongly  as  ever  the  importance  of 
the  subject,  and  thought  it  the  duty  of  a 
minister  of  religion  to  explain  his  views 
when  the  honour  of  God  and  interests  of 
religion  were  concerned ;  but  that  he 
lamented,  that  any  thing  should  have  ap- 


106  THE    LIFE    OF 

peared  in  the  expression  of  his  sentiments 
that  was  thought  disrespectful.  Upon 
receiving  this  note,  the  governor  not  only 
permitted  him  to  remain,  but  for  a  time 
observed  the  day  of  rest. 

Amongst  the  native  iroops  who  attended 
the  earl  on  his  journey  were  a  few  pious 
men  who  had  been  under  the  ministry 
of  i\Ir.  Corrie,  at  Calcutta.  Mr.  Thoma- 
son  did  not  know  them  until  they  had 
been  many  weeks  on  the  route,  when  they 
came  to  his  tent  to  join  in  prayer  and  hear 
the  vScriptures.  He  said,  *^  even  in  this 
jungle,  we  could  rejoice  together  in  re- 
membrance of  the  love  of  Christ.  All 
the  places  (he  added)  where  troops  are 
usually  stationed,  are  empty.  There  is 
nothing  to  amuse  a  traveller  who  does  not 
hunt :  however,  I  hope  my  time  is  not 
wholly  lost;  my  little  Hindoostanee  church 
has  lately  received  an  accession  by  one 
of  the  converts  from  Agra,  a  pious  humble 
Christian  :  we  are  now  a  little  company, 
and  spend  many  a  happy  hour  together 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASOX.  107 

over  the  Scriptures.  With  these  heloved 
fellow-travellers,  I  am  often  solaced  amidst 
the  sickening  frivolities  of  the  camp. 
Since  we  left  Hindostan,  Sunday  has  not 
been  observed  as  a  day  of  rest ;  yet  the 
governor  halts  to  get  ready  for  a  tiger 
hunt.  The  kingdoms  of  this  v.orld  will 
have  their  own  pursuits  and  enjoyments, 
they  are  not  those  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ.  The  experience  I  have  had  of 
this  will,  I  trust,  be  useful  to  me,  and 
certainly,  intercourse  with  native  schools, 
and  daily  Hindoostanee  preaching,  have 
contributed  much  to  enlarge  my  heart 
towards  the  perishing  heathen.  Corrie's 
fatherly  attention  to  his  flock  was  truly 
lovely.  Nothing  of  an  abiding  nature 
can  be  done  without  love,  that  love  which 
arises  from  Christian  principles,  and  is 
kept  up  by  close  walking  with  God. 
I  pra}^  for  more  of  it.  By  love  God 
works  with  us,  and  by  love  we  must  work 
with  others.  Enoch's  walk  was  a  walk 
of  love.     Sometimes  I  try  to  examine,  in 


108  THE    LIFE    OF 

a  practical  way,  this  one  word,  love,  and 
find  it  full  of  afiecting  truths.  We  know 
little  about  it.  Humility,  holiness,  faith, 
hope,  gratitude,  all  these,  working  in  their 
degree,  enlarge  the  contracted  heart.  In 
proportion  to  the  intenseness  of  them,  is 
the  intenseness  of  our  love.  Where  there 
is  nothing  of  them,  all  that  looks  like  love 
is  selfish,  depraved,  earthly  principle.  I 
could  prove  this,  and  do  so  to  myself 
every  day.  I  see  a  vast  quantity  of  rub- 
bish, spurious  love,  animal  warmth,  san- 
guine self-complacency,  self-righteous  ex- 
ertion, usurping  the  place  of  love,  wear- 
ing its  garb,  talking  its  language.  Is  this 
wonderful,  when  there  is  so  much  pride  ? 
The  first  step  in  the  ladder  is  humility. 
The  Lord  help  us  to  gain  it,  and  to  go 
step  by  step,  till  we  have  got  to  the  region 
of  love." 

The  governor  having  determined  to 
stop  some  time  at  Agra,  on  his  return 
home,  Mr.  Thomason  obtained  permission 
to  leave  the  camp,  and   on   the    6th    of 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  109 

March,  1815,  arrived  again  at  the  Ganges, 
and  took  boat  for  Calcutta,  where  he 
arrived  in  May,  after  an  absence  of  eleven 
months.  In  looking  back  upon  this  jour- 
ney, Mr.  Thomason  remarked  : — 

"  To  have  once  taken  the  tour  of  the 
Bengal  provinces,  will  be  of  great  advan- 
tage in  future  operations.  But  there  is 
nothing  to  tempt  a  second  visit.  To  a 
feeling  heart,  the  prospect  of  desolation 
is  most  distressing.  The  country  affords 
much  to  gratify  a  naturalist  and  an  anti- 
quary ;  but  the  pursuits  of  such  persons 
require  time  and  leisure.  We  only  passed 
through,  and  saw  the  immense  plains  of 
Hindostan,  in  all  their  nakedness,  the  dire 
effects  of  those  contentions  which,  for 
centuries,  have  depopulated  the  country, 
and  covered  its  face  with  ruins.  The 
ruins  of  Delhi  are  of  surprising  extent, 
reaching  sixteen  miles  or  more  ;  a  sicken- 
ing sight  !  0  it  makes  us  sad  to  go 
through  the  awful  scene  of  desolation. 
Mosques,  temples,  houses,  all  in  ruins  ; 
K 


110  THE    LIFE    OF 

piles  of  stones,  broken  pillars,  domes, 
crumbling  walls,  covered  the  place.  The 
imperial  city  presents  nothing  but  the 
palace  to  give  an  idea  of  its  greatness, 
and  only  appears  grand  from  the  magnifi- 
cent wall  with  which  it  is  surrounded, 
which  still  retains  its  beauty — being  buiit 
of  hard  stone.  Within  is  poverty  and 
departed  grandeur — all  is  going  to  decay 
The  famous  hall  of  audience  remains, 
built  of  marble,  richly  inlaid  with  stones 
sufficiently  beautiful  to  realize  all  our  ex- 
pectations. We  saw  in  the  gardens  the 
reigning  prince,  the  poor  representative 
of  Timur's  house.  He  was  taking  an 
airing,  carried  on  a  tonjoh  (a  chair 
borne  on  shoulders),  preceded  by  a  train 
of  attendants  bawling  out  his  titles  ;  he 
bowed  to  us,  and  appeared  an  intelligent 
man.  The  courts  of  the  palace — the  at 
tendants — the  offices  of  the  servants — all 
gave  an  appearance  of  wretchedness  one 
could  not  behold  without  a  sigh. 

"  We  had  a  pleasant  parting  with   his 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  Ill 

lordship  ;  he  expressed  his  hope  to  me 
that  something  would  result  from  the  in- 
formation we  had  collected  on  the  journey, 
and  that  the  hints  which  had  heen  fur- 
nished would  be  gathered  up  and  become 
productive  of  some  beneficial  plans  of  in- 
struction, of  the  need  of  which  he  fel 
as  much  assured  as  ever.  On  the  whole, 
I  felt  as  if  my  connexion  with  this  party 
had  not  been  without  its  use.  I  have  had 
frequent  opportunities  of  suggesting  what 
appeared  advisable,  and  now  part  from 
them  with  a  promise  of  communicating 
from  time  to  time  what  may  be  interest- 
ing in  my  department  Having  now  seen 
all  the  principal  stations  and  principal 
people  in  the  parts,  I  return  much  better 
qualified  to  judge  of  many  things  than  I 
could  have  been  if  I  had  continued  in 
Calcutta.  But  schools  have  not  yet  been 
formed.  The  prospect  indeed  has  becom 
darker  rather  than  otherwise.  For  want 
of  the  true  rallying  point,  philanthropic 
benevolence  sinks  before  the  opposition 


112  THE    LIFE    OF 

and    indifference  which   oppose   efficient 
plans  of  usefulness." 

During  his  absence  Dr.  Middleton,  the 
new  bishop  of  Calcutta,  arrived,  and  his 
hopes  were  raised  that  he  could  gain  his 
influence  in  promoting  the  moral  welfare 
of  the  people. 


CHAPTER   X. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Mr.  Thomason 
after  his  return  was,  to  use  his  influence  for 
the  establishment  of  an  asylum  for  the 
female  children  of  the  English  soldiers 
who  died  in  India.  These  children  were 
not  only  left  in  poverty,  but  exposed  to 
the  worst  example,  and  were  almost  cer- 
tainly brought  to  ruin.  Mr.  Thomason 
obtained  subscriptions  for  the  asylum,  and 
a  large  house  was  built,  in  which  seventy 
orphans  were  soon  comfortably  placed. 

In  1816,  the  plan,  which  was  so  deai 
to  him,  of  finding  means  for  the  educa 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASOy.  113 

tion  of  the  natives,  was  commenced  by 
the  natives  themselves establishins;  a  school 
and  college.  The  object  was  that  which 
he  had  so  strongly  recommended  to  the 
governor,  the  instruction  of  the  people  in 
the  English,  as  well  as  in  their  own  lan- 
guage and  sciences.  This  college  they 
maintain  at  their  own  expense,  and  the 
professors  are  Hindoos. 

Mr.  Thomason  was  also  active  in  the 
formation  of  the  School-book  Society,  the 
design  of  which  was  to  furnish  proper 
books  for  the  instruction  of  the  natives  in 
the  English  language.  In  1817  he  be- 
came secretary  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Society  in  Calcutta,  which  greatly  increased 
his  labours.  He  established  a  monthly 
missionary  prayer-meeting  at  his  church, 
on  the  plan  of  the  concerts  for  prayer 
on  the  first  Monday  of  every  month, 
which  are  now  observed  by  Christians 
in  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  addition 
to  these  duties,  he  translated  the  book 
of  Psalms  into  Persian,  not  knowing, 
k2 


114  THE    LIFE    OF 

probably,  that  Henry  Martyn  had  done 
this  at  Shiraz  ;  he  revised  the  Old  Tes- 
tament in  Arabic,  and  superintended 
the  printing  of  the  New  Testament 
in  Arabic  and  Persian.  "  I  am  filled 
with  astonishment,"  he  said,  "  at  the 
opening  scenes  of  usefulness  :  send  us 
labourers — send  us  faithful,  laborious  la- 
bourers. Being  obliged  to  undertake  so 
many  departments  renders  me  sadly  in- 
efficient. Preaching,  translating,  writing 
letters,  attending  committees,  all  is  feebly 
and  unprofitably  done." 

In  1818,  bishop  Middleton  engaged 
with  great  zeal  in  promoting  the  efforts 
to  instruct  the  people.  This  animated 
Mr.  Thomason  to  still  more  diligence. 

"  To  the  joy  of  many,"  he  writes, 
*'  our  bishop  has  come  forward  in  behalf 
of  the  heathen.  The  public  was  moved — 
a  school  committee  formed — a  noble  fund 
raised  for  school  purposes  !  What  could 
the  heart  desire  more  ?  We  are  not  strait- 
ened for  means  or  for  patronage,  we  want 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASOV.  116 

only  instruments.  As  a  member  of  the 
school  committee,  I  have  felt  it  my  duty 
to  rise  to  the  great  occasion,  and  have  laid 
my  shoulders  to  the  work,  and  have  for 
some  time  past  been  busily  employed  in 
learning  the  Bengalee  language,  organizing 
schools,  examining  classes,  looking  out  for 
teachers.  The  bishop's  chaplain  is  the 
only  one  who  takes  an  active  part  in  our 
committee.  He  is  in  fact  the  secretary  ; 
but  as  he  always  travels  with  the  bishop, 
he  leaves  me  to  act  for  him  as  secretary 
to  the  diocesan  committee  ;  and  thus  I 
have  for  months  together  the  concerns  of 
the  society  for  promoting  Christian  know- 
ledge upon  my  hands.  Now  that  they 
have  come  publicly  forward  in  the  cause 
of  the  heathen,  I  rejoice,  and  feel  it  an 
honour  to  serve  them.  By  throwing  in 
all  my  little  influence,  and  using  all  my 
exertion  for  them,  I  am  enabled  to  help 
forward  a  mighty  instrument  of  good  ; 
and  truly  it  is  a  matter  of  rejoicing  that 
the  great  and  gay  amongst  us  have  been 


116  THE    LIFE    OF 

forward  to  give  their  silver  and  gold  at 
the  call  of  the  bishop." 

The  next  employment  of  jNIr.  Thoma- 
son  was  to  revise  the  translation  of  the 
Old  Testament  into  Hindoostanee,  which 
Henry  Martyn  had  left  in  an  unfinished 
state.  About  this  time  the  bishop  pro- 
posed the  establishment  of  a  college  at 
Calcutta,  for  the  education  of  missionaries. 
This  was  carried  into  effect,  and  the  insti- 
tution is  called  Bishop's  college.  Its 
principal  objects  are  to  prepare  native  and 
other  Christian  youth  to  be  preachers  and 
schoolmasters,  to  teach  useful  knowledge 
to  the  Hindoos  and  Mohammedans,  and 
to  translate  the  Bible  and  tracts.  The 
government  now  made  a  grant  of  nearly 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  yearly  to  the  or- 
phan asylum. 

Bishop  Middleton  died  in  July,  1822, 
and  bishop  Heber  succeeded  him  in  the 
next  year.  On  the  arrival  of  the  latter, 
Mr.  Thomason  was  appointed  as  a  minis- 
ter in  the  bishop's  church,  but  continuing 


THOMAS   T.  THOMASON.  117 

to  preach  in  the  mission   church  once  a 
week. 

In  1825  the  health  of  Mrs.  Thomason 
had  become  so  weak,  that  the  only  hope 
of  her  recovery  was  in  her  leaving  the 
climate.  Her  husband  felt  compelled  to 
take  her  to  England  on  this  account,  and 
having  seen  a  minister  settled  in  his  place 
in  whom  he  had  great  confidence,  he  pre- 
pared for  his  departure.  Before  he  left 
Calcutta  he  received  a  long  letter  from 
members  of  the  congregation  whom  he 
had  faithfully  served  for  fifteen  years, 
thanking  him  for  his  labours,  and  men- 
tioning many  sermons  in  particular,  which 
they  remembered  as  having  been  instru- 
mental in  doing  good.  One  of  these, 
which  had  been  preached  on  new-year's 
day,  ten  years  before  his  departure,  they 
quoted  in  the  letter,  and  it  may  be  profit- 
able for  the  readers  of  this  book  to  have 
part  of  the  letter  copied,  not  only  as  con- 
taining solemn  thoughts  for  their  reflec- 
tion, but  as  an  example  of  the  attention 


il8  THE    LIFE    OF 

that  should  be   paid   to   sermons  and   all 
other  instruction.     The  letter  said  : — 

"  We  shall  in  this  place  advert  more 
particularly  to  one  of  your  affectionate 
addresses  to  the  old  church  congregation, 
delivered  on  new-year's  day,  181 G,  as 
being  quite  suitable  to  our  present  pur- 
pose, and  to  the  avowed  object  of  this 
address.  The  text  was  taken  from  the 
4th  chapter  of  Amos,  and  the  12th  verse, 
'  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God.'  You  said, 
'  My  dear  brethren,  we  have  often  met 
together  in  this  house  :  the  years  roll 
round,  and  life  sinks  apace  ;  our  connexion 
together  as  minister  and  people  has  sub- 
sisted now  more  than  seven  years ;  I  feel 
my  own  heart  deeply  impressed  with  the 
importance  of  the  relation  which  unites 
us,  and  hope  you  will  bear  with  me  in 
saying  this,  on  an  occasion  when,  by  the 
providence  of  God,  we  are  assembled  to 
consider  how  we  may  best  improve  the 
year  which  this  day  opens  upon  us.  Can 
we   better   improve  it,  than  by  carrying 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASOX.  119 

our  thoughts  forward  to  that  great  day 
when  we  shall  meet  together  at  the  bar 
of  judgment,  when  minister  and  people 
shall  meet  their  God  ?  The  thought  of 
this  meeting,  which  we  are  quite  sure 
must  take  place,  ought  to  lead  us  all  to  in- 
quire into  the  preparation  we  have  made 
for  it.  I  say,  we  are  quite  sure  of  it,  we 
cannot  get  rid  of  the  thought  if  we  would. 
Every  day  hastens  forward  that  solemn 
event.  It  will  be  a  meeting  without  any 
disguise  on  either  side — a  meeting  in 
which  we  shall  be  perfectly  known  to 
God  and  to  each  other — a  meeting  in 
which  every  soul  will  be  deeply  inte- 
rested, and  unless  we  are  prepared  for  it, 
it  will  be  a  meeting  of  unutterable  anguish. 
Two  questions  I  would  propose  for  present 
consideration  :  First,  with  what  feelings 
shall  we  meet  each  other  on  that  day  ? 
Secondly,  with  what  feelings  shall  we 
meet  God?'  Again,  ^  Many  a  precious 
hour  of  our  lives  has  been  spent  in  this 
place  ;  many  a  precious  passage  has  beea. 


120  THE    LIFE    OF 

brought  before  us  out  of  the  word  ol 
God  :  promises,  warnings,  expostulations, 
threatenings,  precepts,  exhortations,  have 
been  the  subject  of  our  meditations.  Some 
of  your  ministers,  dear  and  honoured  ser- 
vants of  God,  have  been  removed  by 
death  :  others  have  laboured  amongst  you, 
and  are  now  absent  at  their  respective 
posts.  Inroads  have  been  made  in  the 
congregation  by  death,  and  now  we,  who 
are  spared  to  consider  the  lapse  of  years, 
should  consider  ourselves  called  upon  to 
serious  self-examination,  and  faithful  deal- 
ing with  ourselves. 

"'Are  there  not  many  who  must  testify, 
if  they  would  speak  the  truth,  that  they 
have  received  no  profit  ;  as  ignorant  of 
divine  things,  as  much  strangers  to  the 
power,  as  much  in  bondage  to  sin  and  the 
world  as  they  were  ?  Surely,  your  meet- 
ing with  your  ministers  must  be  a  painful 
one.  They  will  be  a  swift  witness  against 
you  in  that  day,  if  you  die  in  your  pre- 
sent condition.    Are  there  not  others  who 


THOMAS    T .  THOMASON.  121 

have  declined  from  the  ways  of  God,  who 
neither  have  the  comfort  they  once  en- 
joyed, nor  do  they  manifest  the  same 
fruitfulnesG  ?  I  am  sure  there  is  a  marked 
difference  in  their  attendance  at  the  house 
of  God.  They  used  to  attend  both  on 
Sundays  and  week  days.  Now  they  only 
come  on  Sundays,  and  very  often  but 
once  on  that  blessed  day.'  " 

Among  the  services  which  his  congre- 
gation remembered  with  gratitude,  they 
mentioned  the  following  : — "  On  your 
first  arrival  amongst  us,  you  commenced 
a  round  of  pastoral  visits  to  the  families 
of  many  of  the  old  church  congregation. 
These  parochial  visits  led  to  the  adoption 
of  social  worship  amongst  families  wher^ 
such  a  practice  had  not  been  observed 
before,  whilst  they  added  fresh  fervour 
and  earnestness  amongst  those  with  whom 
family  worship  had  been  already  esta- 
blished. And  we  have  heard  that  your 
first  visit  of  this  kind  to  one  of  your  old 
L 


122  THE    LIFE    OF 

•  church  congregation  and  his  family, — on 
an  occasion  when  you  selected,  for  the 
meditation  of  the  evening,  the  fourth 
chapter  of  St  John's  gospel,  wherein  is 
recorded  the  story  of  the  woman  of 
Samaria  coming  to  Jacob's  well,  to  draw 
water,  and  the  conference  she  had  with 
our  Saviour, — has  been  remembered  with 
thankfulness  in  that  family  to  this  day. 

"We  cannot  omit  noticing  another 
branch  of  your  early  labours  on  your 
first  arrival  in  Calcutta.  We  allude  to 
your  catechetical  lectures  to  the  younger 
part  of  your  flock,  on  a  Saturday  even- 
ing. Numbers  of  your  juvenile  disciples 
(most  of  whom  have  now  grown  to  years 
of  discretion)  have  profited  by  your  in- 
structions to  them,  and  through  Divine 
grace  the  good  seed  sown  has  not  been 
unproductive,  but  brought  forth  fruit  unto 
repentance  and  to  a  godly  life  ;  some  a 
hundred  fold,  some  sixty,  and  some  thirty. 
".You  have  been  a  foster-father  to  them, 


THOMAS   T.  THOMASON.  123 

and  they  duly  appreciate  your  tender 
solicitude  towards  their  spiritual  welfare 
and  eternal  interests." 

In  the  conclusion  of  the  letter  his  peo- 
ple said  : — "  And  now,  belgved  and  dear 
sir,  we  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell 
a  farewell  which  is  poignantly  felt  in  the 
very  inmost  recesses  of  our  hearts.     In 
the  year  1808   you  came  to  us,  and  now 
in  this  year  1826,  you  are  about  to  depart 
from   us  !     May   he   who  '  manages  the 
seas'  conduct  the  Thomas  Grenville  with 
safety  to  her   destined    haven,  and  may 
yourself  and   your   dear   wife,  who   has 
verily  been  a  Dorcas  amongst  us,  full  of 
good   works   and   alms-deeds  which  she 
has  done,  be  conveyed  speedily  into  the 
bosom  of  your  revered   mother,  and  all 
near  and  dear  to  you  in  your  native  land. 
Should  you  again  come  back  to  us  (which 
God  grant  that  you  may)  how  many  will 
you  not  miss  !     Many  who  have  walked 
with  you  in  the  house  of  God,  and  taken 
sweet   counsel  together,  will   have  gone 


124  THE    LIFE    OF 

before  us  to  the  heavenly  Jerusalem, 
where  ministers  and  people  will  one  day 
all  surround  the  throne  of  Him  that  sit- 
teth  upon  the  throne  and  of  the  Lamb 
for  ever.  Should  it  be  otherwise,  we  en- 
treat your  prayers  for  us,  that  '  our  con- 
versation be  as  it  beeometh  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  that  whether  you  come  and  see  us, 
or  else  be  absent,  you  may  hear  of  our 
affairs,  that  we  stand  fast  in  one  spirit, 
with  one  mind,  striving  together  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel.'  " 

The  congregation  also  lost  a  valuable 
friend  in  parting  with  Mrs.  Thomason. 
She  was  kind  and  affectionate  to  all,  and 
spent  much  time  in  works  of  benevolence. 
She  took  great  interest  in  the  orphan  asy- 
lum, and  had  the  principal  charge  of  the 
management  of  the  house,  and  it  was  re- 
marked that  no  institution  existed  any- 
where in  which  the  arrangements  were 
more  excellent  for  the  comfort  and  wel- 
fare, both  temporal  and  spiritual,  of  the 
nmates. 


THOMAS   T.  THOMASON.  125 


CHAPTER  XL 

Mr.  Thomason  left  Calcutta  with  his 
wife  in  February,  1826,  but  they  had  not 
been  many  weeks  at  sea  before  her  illness 
increased  so  much,  that  it  was  evident  she 
could  not  reach  her  home.  She  died  in 
the  vessel,  and  was  buried  in  the  sea. 

Three  days  before  her  death  she  ex 
pressed  to  her  husband  a  hope  that  God 
vv^ould  spare  her,  that  she  might  continue 
to  be  a  comfort  to  her  husband,  and  to 
bring  up  her  children :  but  when  Mr. 
Thomason  said,  "  But  what  if  it  should 
please  him  to  dispose  otherwise?"  she 
answered,  "Then  his  will  be  done !"  Be- 
fore she  was  confined  to  bed  she  was 
fond  of  reading  hymns  aloud.  Reading 
the  hymn  beginning — 

O  God,  our  help  in  ages  past. 

Our  hope  for  years  to  come, 
Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 

And  our  eternal  home, 
l2 


126  THE    LIFE    OF 

she  was  very  much  affected  ;  but  when  she 
came  to  this  verse, — 

In  every  scene  of  life  and  death 

Thy  promise  is  our  trust, 
And  this  shall  be  our  children's  song, 

When  we  are  cold  in  dust, 

she  was  overcome.  She  thought  of  the 
children  she  was  going  to  leave  behind 
her.  Who  can  describe  the  love  of  a 
mother  ?  Who  of  the  readers  of  this 
book  feel  that  they  have  loved  and 
honoured  their  mothers  as  they  ought  ? 
Who  are  following  their  pious  advice, 
and  seeking  the  blessing  of  God  ?*  She 
became  so  low  that  it  was  difficult  to  con- 
verse. All  that  her  husband  could  do 
w^as  to  read  to  her  short  portions  of  Scrip- 
ture, and  pray  with  her.  When  asked  if 
the  Saviour  comforted  her,  she  answered, 
"  He   does."     Her    countenance   showed 

•  If  any  reader  wishes  to  see  the  tenderness  of  a 
mother  illustrated,  and  the  dreadful  nature  and  conse- 
quences of  disobedience  and  want  of  affection  shown, 
let  him  read  "  The  Only  Son,"  pubUshed  by  the  Am. 
S.  S.  Union. 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  127 

that  she  spent  much  time  in  earnest 
prayer.  "  On  Saturday  evening/*  said 
Mr.  Thomason,  writing  to  his  son  in 
India,  "  her  precious  remains  were  com- 
mitted to  the  deep.  The  evening  was 
still,  and  all  was  solemn  ;  the  service  was 
read  by  dear  S ,  whose  brotherly  ten- 
derness and  sympathy  I  cannot  adequately 
describe.  Being  myself  overwhelmed  by 
the  bereavement,  I  was  unable  to  perform 
that  last  service  ;  but  I  saw  from  a  dis- 
tance the  coffin  dropped  into  the  sea,  and 
heard  the  words,  '  We  commit  her  body 
to  the  deep,  to  be  turned  into  corruption, 
looking  for  the  resurrection  of  the  body 
(when  the  sea  shall  give  up  her  dead),  and 
the  life  of  the  world  to  come,  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  at  his  coming  shall 
change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be  like 
unto  his  glorious  body,  according  to  the 
mighty  working,  whereby  he  is  able  to 
subdue  all  things  to  himself.'  0,  my  be- 
loved boy,  I  cannot  tell  you  the  consola 
tion  afforded  by  that  hope.     I  earnestly 


128  THE    LIFE    OF 

trust  it  will  be  as  a  healing  balm  to  yom 
own  heart" 

On  his  arrival  in  England,  Mr.  Thoma- 
son  found  his  mother  still  living,  and  she 
had  the  happiness  of  seeing  her  son,  from 
whom  she  had  been  separated  eighteen 
years.  After  visiting  his  friends,  Mr. 
Thomason,  finding  that  he  might  be  use- 
fully employed  in  Cheltenham, took  charge 
of  a  church  there.  All  his  children  were 
once  more  collected  around  him  ;  his  son 
having  also  returned  from  India.  Whilst 
at  Cheltenham,  he  was  active  in  his  efibrts 
to  promote  the  interests  of  the  people  of 
India.  He  held  a  monthly  meeting  in 
aid  of  the  missionary  society,  and  was 
engaged  in  other  ways  in  endeavouring 
to  spread  the  gospel  through  the  whole 
world 

But  he  found  that  he  could  not  do  as 
much  good  in  this  way  as  by  living  among 
the  heathen  themselves,  and  felt  it  to  be 
his  duty  to  return  to  Calcutta.  It  was, 
indeed,  a  severe  trial  to  leave  his  motli 


THOMAS    T.   THOMASON.  129 

and  friends  once  more, and  probably  never 
to  see  them  again,  and  to  take  his  children 
from  the  comforts  and  advantages  of  home  ; 
but  he  knew  he  must  not  let  such  feelings 
prevent  him  from  doing  his  duty,  and  ac- 
cordingly offered  himself,  in  1828,  to  be 
sent  to  his  former  station.  As  he  ob- 
served, "  I  clearly  see  the  path  of  duty. 
If  God  be  our  God,  he  can  and  will  make 
up  every  loss.  I  desire  to  make  him  my 
dwelling-place,  and  to  expect  all  happi- 
ness and  strength  from  him."  He  paid 
a  visit  to  Cambridge,  the  scene  of  so  many 
interesting  events  in  his  life,  and  a  person 
who  was  in  the  university  at  the  time  has 
given  the  following  account  of  it. 

"  During  Mr.  Thomason's  last  visit  to 
Cambridge,  about  twenty  under-graduates 
were  invited  to  join  a  farewell  party  to 
him  at  the  Rev.  H.  Parish's  rooms.  After 
breakfast  he  spent  an  hour  in  giving  us  a 
view  of  the  preparatory  studies,  the  duties, 
privations,  and  joys  of  a  chaplain  and  of  a 
missionary  in  India.     Most  of  us,  1    b^- 


130  THE    LIFE    OF 

lieve,  must  date  any  distinct  ideas  we  may 
have  on  the  subject  from  that  conversa- 
tion. His  graphic  views  of  the  necessi 
ties  of  India — his  statements  from  expe- 
rience of  the  blessedness  of  the  work, 
kindled  a  missionary  flame  in  many  ; 
whilst  his  solemn  warnings  against  secu- 
larity  of  motive,  and  unadvised  hasti- 
ness in  deciding,  were  well  fitted  to  damp 
any  thing  of  mere  animal  fervour,  or  tem- 
porary excitement. 

"When    about   to  part,  the    Rev.   W 

B took  his  hand  and  said,  '  Christian 

brother,  we  bid  you  God  speed,'  and  gave 
him  a  parting  blessing.  Mr.  T.  shook 
each  of  us  by  the  hand,  and  said,  *  I  know 
not  your  faces,  but  I  shall  be  glad  to  see 
you  in  India  ;  or,  if  not  in  India,  I  shall 
hope  to  meet  and  recognise  all  of  you  in 
that  great  day.' 

"  Few  of  us  will  forget  his  countenance 
at  the  close  of  our  meeting.  Two  of  the 
party  have  since  gone  to  India  as  chap- 
lains;  but  they  did  not  see  Mr.Thomason  " 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  131 

He  left  England  in  the  summer  of 
1828,  two  years  after  his  arrival  there, 
taking  with  him  a  wife  whom  he  married 
there.  After  a  passage  of  about  four 
months,  he  reached  Calcutta. 

But  soon  after  his  arrival,  he  began  to 
suffer  from  the  dropsy.  He  appeared  to 
be  cured  of  this  disease,  but  was  reduced 
so  low  by  the  remedies  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  take  a  voyage  to  recover 
his  strength.  He  accordingly  sailed  for 
Mauritius,  in  the  isle  of  France.  The 
use  of  sickness  and  suffering  to  a  Chris- 
tian may  be  seen  by  reading  Mr.  Thoma- 
son's  expressions  at  this  time.  They  are 
in  a  letter  to  his  mother  written  from  the 
ship  in  which  he  was  sailing  from  Calcutta. 

"  Through  these  painful  months  I  have 
been  much  exercised  in  mind  ;  and  when 
in  the  near  prospect  of  eternity,  could  at 
no  time  rise  to  any  great  joy.  My  soul, 
through  the  mercy  of  God,  could  cast  it- 
self upon  the  Saviour,  and  there  repose. 
But  oh  !   how   in   the  retrospect  of  my 


132  THE    LIFE    OF 

past  life,  did  I  see  cause  to  weep  ;  and  in 
what  an  affecting  manner  were  the  sins 
of  my  youth  and  more  advanced  age  set 
before  me !  How  was  I  shocked  at  the 
foolish  chattering,  and  the  defiled  super- 
ficial statements  with  which  the  deep 
things  of  God  had  been  handled  !  Very 
great  and  glorious  they  then  appeared  to 
me,  and  I  pray  that  the  impression  may 
be  deep  and  permament.  I  seemed  to 
have  heard  of  God  only  with  the  hearing 
of  the  ear,  and  now  that  mine  eye  saw 
him  more  nearly,  I  abhorred  myself. 
During  this  whole  season  of  suffering, 
great  was  the  mercy  of  God  to  me.  The 
attendance  of  my  wife  and  children  was 
most  touching  ;  and  the  keen  solicitude 
expressed  by  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation was  soothing  to  the  heart.  Though 
I  felt  myself  to  be  utterly  unworthy  of 
their  love,  yet  I  could  not  but  consider  it 
as  an  evidence  that  my  labour  had  not 
been  altogether  vain.  I  could  appeal  to 
the  heart-searching  God  as  to  the  sincerity 


THOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  133 

of  my  heart,  in  desiring  rather  to  be  taken 
away  at  once,  than  to  go  on  in  the  same 
superficial,  unprofitable  way  I  had  hitherto 
done.  If  it  please  him  to  restore  me  to 
work,  I  pray  that  the  fruit  of  this  visi- 
tation may  appear.  Little  did  I  think 
when  I  last  wrote  from  this  neighbour 
hood,  that  I  should  so  soon  be  compelled 
to  retrace  my  steps.  It  seemed  on  reach- 
ing the  sand-heads,  and  hearing  of  the 
state  of  things,  that  I  had  come  back  to 
Calcutta  in  the  very  moment  of  time,  that 
nothing  could  be  more  seasonable,  nothing 
more  indicative  of  providential  guidance ; 
that  I  was,  in  short,  just  the  person  that 
was  wanted  to  fill  up  the  gap.  Thou 
blind  fool,  said  God,  go  back  again,  and 
know  that  my  work  wants  you  not.  So 
I  interpret  the  providence  by  which  I  am 
sent  back  from  the  place  to  which  my 
heart  had  clung.  God  will  do  his  work 
with  hallowed  instruments.  I  pray  that 
he  may  sanctify  and  make  me  meet  for 
his  work,  and  feel  that  he  is  righteous  in 
M 


134  THE    LIFE    OF 

all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his  works. 
In  the  retirement  of  this  cabin,  I  trust  the 
Lord  will  deepen  his  work  in  my  heart." 
The  voyage  lasted  nine  weeks,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  of  service.  From  the  pen 
of  Mrs.  Thomason  we  have  this  narrative 
uf  his  employment  and  state  of  mind 
during  that  time  : — "  He  read  twice  over 
the  Harmony  of  the  Gospels,  which,  as 
he  intently  perused,  he  frequently  said, 
*  I  have  been  feasting  on  the  bread  of 
life.'  He  appeared  sometimes  to  be  ab- 
sent from  all  earthly  scenes  ;  so  elevated 
was  his  soul  with  meditation  on  the  bound- 
less love  of  God  in  Christ,  which  was 
heightened  by  a  deep  sense  of  his  own 
vileness  :  indeed,  this  characteristic  much 
increased  as  he  ripened  for  glory  :  he 
lamented  his  great  defect  in  every  rela- 
tive duty,  in  his  ministerial  office  espe- 
cially ;  and  in  deep  humility  of  heart 
used  to  break  out  in  the  publican's  prayer, 
and  frequently  said,  ^  I  cast  myself  on  the 
boundless  mercy  of  God.     I  throw  my 


TPIOMAS    T.  THOMASON.  135 

self  at  my  Saviour's  feet;  if  I  perish,  I 
perish  there,' 

"  He  was  very  earnest  in  his  petitions 
at  the  throne  of  grace  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  India,  for  the  coming  of  Christ's 
kingdom,  and  the  fulfilment  of  those  pro- 
phecies relating  to  it.  He  left  an  affec- 
tionate farewell  to  those  most  dear  to  him, 
in  the  following  words, — ^  To  my  dearest 
mother,  give  my  most  affectionate  love, 
and  may  her  last  days  be  her  best  days. 
To  my  very  dear  Mr.  Simeon  say,  I  feel 
unworthy  of  the  great  love  he  has  at  all 
times  honoured  me  with.  0  may  his  bow 
abide  in  strength,  and  may  he  be,  if  possi- 
ble, still  more  useful  in  his  age.'  " 

They  landed  at  Mauritius  on  the  7th 
of  June,  1829,  on  which  day  he  entered 
the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his  life.  From 
that  time  he  became  worse.  "On  Saturday 
morning,  the  20th,"  says  his  wife,  "he 
requested  me  to  read  the  appointed  psalms 
for  the  morning  (as  was  my  frequent 
custom),   the   first   of    which    being   the 


136  THE    LIFE    or 

102d,  he  said,  *  How  descriptive  of  my 
case.'  On  Sunday  he  had  a  very  suffer- 
ing day,  but  his  mind  was  composed,  he 
was  quite  sensible  his  end  was  approach- 
ing, and  his  frequent  prayer  was  for  pa- 
tience :  yet  indeed  he  was  an  example  of 
patient  suffering  :  towards  the  evening 
I  perceived  evident  signs  of  approaching 
dissolution,  and  therefore  requested  a 
Christian  friend  to  be  with  me  at  the 
closing  scene  ;  he  can  bear  witness  with 
myself,  to  the  firm  faith  and  strong  hope 
which  disarmed  death  of  its  sting,  and 
shed  a  holy  quiet  and  peace  around. 

"  Many  sweet  expressions  we  heard 
from  his  dying  lips,  in  the  midst  of  severe 
bodily  agony,  such  as  the  following : 
*  This  is  a  dark  valley,  but  there  's  light 
at  the  end.'  '  Thanks  be  unto  God  for 
his  unspeakable  gift'  '  Lord  Jesus,  re- 
ceive my  spirit'  '  Lord  give  me  patience, 
may  patience  have  its  perfect  work.' 
'When  thou  hadst  overcome  the  sharp- 
ness of  death,  thou  didst  open  the  king- 


THOxMAS    T.   THOMASON.  137 

dom  of  heaven  to  all  believers.'  About 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  inquired 
-what  time  it  was,  and  when  told,  he  re- 
plied, ^  I  thought  I  should  have  been  far 
away  before  this.'  "  The  last  words  that 
he  uttered  were  in  reply  to  his  wife,  who, 
observing  that  his  last  moment  was  near, 
said,  "  The  Lord  is  coming  quickly.'^ 
when  he  said,  "  I  hope  so."  He  died  on 
the  21st  of  June. 


And  now  that  my  young  reader  has 
finished  the  book,  I  would  ask,  has  it 
done  you  any  good  ?  Do  you  love  the 
character  of  Mr.  Thomason  ?  Do  you 
love  him  because  he  was  a  Christian  ? 
If  so,  why  do  you  not  love  Christ,  who 
was  the  author  of  all  that  was  good  or 
lovely  in  him,  and  therefore  ought  to  be 
loved  most  ? 

Do  you  think  that  if  you  were  very 
ill,  you  would  be  glad  to  be  told  that  you 


138  LIFE    OF    THOMASON. 

were  about  to  die  ?     Would  you  be  will 
ing  to  say,  "  I  hope  so  V^     Do  you  think 
you  would  go  to  Christ  if  you  did  die  ? 

These  are  solemn  questions,  and  God 
knows  how  you  do,  or  ought  to,  answer 
them  in  truth.  Mr.  Thomason  began  to 
serve  God  in  his  childhood.  Before  he 
was  nine  years  old  he  loved  prayer  better 
than  amusement,  and  desired  that  others 
should  be  as  happy  as  himself.  With 
these  feelings  he  grew  up,  and  the  Lord 
enabled  him  to  be  useful  to  many  souls, 
and  although  he  is  now  dead,  he  may  be 
useful  to  your  souls  by  this  life  that  you 
have  read.  Pray  to  God  that  it  may  be 
so  !  May  he  grant  your  prayer,  for 
Jesus'  sake. 


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